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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductfons  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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28X 


32X 


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plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  d3  la  condition  et 
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empreinte. 

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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nomb'e 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagramm^is  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


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Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  188S^ 

Bt  PATRICK  DONAHOB, 

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PREFACE. 


1^ 


In  offering  this  volume  to  the  public,  a  few  words  of  explana- 
tiou  are  deemed  necessary,  not  so  much  for  its  appearance,  as  for 
the  arrangement  of  its  contents, 

Ab  to  its  appearance,  the  state  of  Irish  aftairs  calls  for  some 
record,  and  as,  owing  to  peculiar  circumstances,  the  nearest  ap- 
proach to  a  perfect  chronicle  which  can  now  be  offered,  is  an 
account  of  those  who  brought  about  the  crisis  and  are  gdlanUy 
stn;ggling  through  it,  the  present  form  was  adopted. 

The  arrangement  is  not  entirely  what  might  be  desired  by  a 
strict  chronologist;  but  as  the  data  had  to  be  obtained  from 
widely  scattered  references  and  correspondents— the  friends  or 
families  of  those  commemorated— and  as  the  pages  went  to  the 
press  when  written,  it  was  found  impossible  to  follow  perfect 
chronological  order.  As  a  general  rule,  the  characters  are  grouped, 
as  they  acted  tc-ether,  and  thus  help  to  illustrate  each  others 
lives;  and  a  slight  hint  will  enable  the  reader  to  follow  the  his- 
tory  of  the  Irish  struggle  in  a  direct  course,  and  to  fill  up,  so  to 
speak,  the  outline  given  in  the  Historical  Introduction. 

Thus  (1)  in  addition  to  what  is  said  there  of  the  effort  in  '48 
tlie  sketches  of  Doheny,  Meany,   O'Mahony  and  Stephens,  fur' 
ther    illustrate    the  doings   of   that    period.      (2)    Mr.    Luby's 
notice    of     Philip    Gray    gives    the     efforts     which     imine- 
m 


4  ^  PREFACE.  ' 

diately  followed  the  scattering  of  **  Young  Ireland."  (G)  The 
sketch  of  J.  O'Donovan  (Rnssa)  presents  tlie  rise  of  tlie  "Phoe- 
nix Society;"  while  the  progress  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood,  and  ^ 
the  more  recent  events — risings,  aiTcsts,  escapes  and  trials — con- 
nected with  it,  are  narrated  with  intelligible  fullness  in  the  noticea 
of  the  respective  heioee  and  maityrs  of  the  most  historical  trans- 
actions. 

No  effort  has  been  spared  to  secure  and  present  the  most 
autlientic  data.  The  tiles  of  the  Dublin  Irishmav^  Nation,  and 
Cork  Herald,  and  those  of  the  New  York  IrisJi  People,  Irish-' 
American,  and  Boston  Pilot,  have  been  found  useful,  especially 
when  their  reports  and  statements  were  corroborated  by  competent 
witnesses,  or  indorsed  by  actors  in  the  scenes  related.  A  quantity 
of  interesting  personal  and  political  history  has  been  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  writer  by  associates  and  relatives  of  many  of  the 
heroes  and  martyrs,  of  which  free  use  has  been  made  to  give 
value  to  these  pages.  Among  those  to  whom  special  thanks  are 
due,  are  General  John  O'Neill,  for  official  documents  ;  Colonel 
O'Connor,  Captains  O'Rorke,  Condon,  and  Conyngham,  and 
Messrs.  T.  B.  Henessey,  (of  Boston,)  Walter  M.  J.  O'Dwyer, 
M.  J.  Heffeman,  Wm.  J,  McClure,  M.  Moynahan,  D.  O'Sullivan, 
and  M.  Cavanagh,  of  New  York. 

J.  S. 


1 


i) 


(S)  The 
he  «'Phce- 
rhood,  and 
rials — con- 
the  noticea 
deal  trans- 

tho  most 
atlon,  and 
pie,  Irish- 

especially 
competent 
A  quantity 
aced  at  the 
lany  of  the 
ide  to  give 
thanks  are 
s  ;  Colonel 
5ham,   and 

O'Dwyer, 
O'SulUvau, 

J.  S. 


.:  'S 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IBISH  PBmciPLES  AND  ENOU8H  INTEnKST. 

The  Stuart  Policy  to  Create  an  Englleh  Interest  in  Ireland-Compllrations 
Growin...  out  of  Confiscations- Alliance  of  the  IriBh  with  the  Stnarts-All 
Enghsh  Parties  Against  the  Iri«h-Tho  Penal  LawH-Protestant  Patriots- 
Swift,  Molyneux  and  Lucas-Theobald  Wolfe  Tone  puts  Iri.h  Politics 
on  the  Proper  Basis-Revolution  of  '82  a  Failure-Protestants,  Dissen- 
ters  Catholics-United  Iri.hmen-War  of '98- Patriotic  Priest-CJenerala 
-ihe  Union,"  Dr.  Johnson  and  Byron  on-Thc  Irish  Exiles  n  Franco 
-Buonaparte  and  Talleyrand-Emmet's  Rebellion -Davis  on  Catholic 
Emancipation  and  Repeal-O'Connell   and  Grattan-Young    Ireland- 

Davis-IrishConfcderation-The  Famine  and  Coerclon-Mitchel  and  the 
itiBUig  of  '48 


U 


CHAPTER  II. 

IRISH  PRfNCrPLES  AND  ENGLISH  INTBnEST-Confmwcrf, 

Did  Young  Ireland  Achieve  a  Victory-Tho  released  Prisoners  and  the  Ex- 
lies  at  work- Continuous  eftorts  to  keep  up  a  National  Organization- 
The  Feninn  Bro,herhood-Its  Beginning  and  Extension-First  Congress 
at  Chicago -Declarations  and  Purposes -Not  a  Secret  Society-The  Poles 
and  the  Pope-0'Mahony  elected  Head  Centre  under  the  New  Constit,,- 
ReLfrih  p"""''f  '^\^^'«""°«ti- -Growth  of  the  Brotherhood- 
Repor  of  the  Envoy  to  Ireland-Council  Enlarged -State  of  Affairs  in 
Ireland-The  L  R.  B.-James  Stephens  and  his  Connection  wiU  the 
Organization-Extensive  Disafiections-Seizure  of  the  lu.h  People  and 

Phi,  fri'~^r't  ""  °'''  ''''  Country-Third  Fenian  Congre  s  lu 
Plnladelphia-Mr.  Meehan's  Report-Constitution  of  the  F.  B.  changed- 
D  fleiH^nces  betvveen  the  '-President"  and  the  "Senate"  result  fn  an 
-  Irish  Party"  and  a  "  Canadian  Party"-Fourth  Congress  restores  he  OM 
Constitution,  endorsed  by  Military  Convention-Excitement  in  Ireland 
incroascs-Arrest  and  Escape  of  Stephens-Lord  Wodehouse  on  tl^  ion 

li:  l^r     n   ""^T''  '"*  '''''  ""'^^«  *h^  ^"^-^  ^-''-^-  i.^  SUSP  ndedl" 
'        T     7    !n  ^"T'"  -^"'^"  ^"^'^  ^'""'-^  Mill-The  Irish  Members 
-John  B.  Dlllon-The  O'Donoghue-Passage  of  the  Bill T.         .    61 

CHAPTER  III,, 

THE  INSUKRECTION  IN  IRELAND-AMERICAN  STMPATHT 

ElTect  of  the  Suspension  of  the  Habeas  Cnrpns~The  News  in  Amertca- 
Arrrlval  of  Stephens  in  New  York-0'Mahony   retires-InvrBioTor 


I 


6  "  •        Contents. 

Can/ida-Thfl  Canadian  Party  Dlnrnpt  StophonB'  1PIan«--tHs  WlHufcifJ  • 
Failure— Uinltitf  In  Kcsrry— Hnarchlni;vnHRnlH  for  Kunliins— Omieral  ItiHiir. 
rectlonary  MovemeiitH  In  Irnliind-  Proclamation  of  rroviMlonal  Oovcrn- 
mont— UlotB  Amnnj^  tho  Sol(iierH— MasHey  iMstrayw  tiici  Movoinont— Irlnii 
Party  in  America-Fifth  Con^roBB  in  Now  Yorli-(Jreat  MeotinR  In 
Union  Hquaro— liCttor  from  Mayor  IlofTman— Ni!f,'otlation8  for  Union— 
The  CauHo  in  U.  8.  ConfrosH  -Bosolutloni!  of  Sympathy  reported  by 
Gen.  BanitB— Hpeeches  and  Vote  on  It-Tlie  Queen  declaren  Irolimd 
Tranciuil  and  thcs  People  Loyal— Contradicted  by  Mr.  MonHcll  and  Mr, 
Brl^'ht— Hoinarlcal)le  Speech  of  Mr.  Monsoll— Bri>,'ht  declares  that  Ireland 
Bhonld  not  be  TraiiquU— Sixth  National  CongroBB  held  in  Now  York- 
Savage  eloctud  Chief  Executive— RemarkH 


«u 


TIB  ANCIENT  FENIANS. 
The  Fenians— Who  Were  They— Their  Dutlea,  Manner*  and  CuBtomB— 
Tho  OsBianlo  Society t. »«#»••  •ift>«««*«>««««*>«**«««»M*>««*«*«******  Iw 

COLONEL  THOMAS  FRANCIS  BOURKa 
Bmmot  and  Bourke— MovementB  of  Bourke'B  Family  in  America  and 
Canada -At  Business- A  Family  Picture— Joins  the  Fenian  Brother- 
hood after  the  War— At  tho  Third  CongresB— Success  as  Organizer  for 
Manhattan  DiHtrlct— Resigns— Why  he  Went  to  Ireland— Assigned  to 
tho  Tipporary  District— Tho  Rising- Captured  at  Ballyhurst  Fort— In- 
dieted  for  High  Treason— Trial— Evidence  of  the  Informors  Massey  and 
Corydon— Great  Speech  In  the  Dock— Touching  Letters  to  his  Mother  - 
Description  la  his  Cell 


lat 


COLONEL  THOMAS  J.  KELLY. 
Birth  and  Youth— A  Printer —Famous  Printers— Starts  thoNashvlllo  nemo. 
cr«t— Files  from  Tennessee  for  his  Union  Faith— Joins  the  Army  in  Cin- 
cinnati—Wounded— Promoted— Signal  Officer  on  General  Thomas'  Staff 
—Health  Broken— Enters  the  Fenian  Cause— First  Military  Eiuoy  to 
Ireland— On  Tour  of  Inspection— Supervises  Stephens'  Encape— Labors 
In  America-Difference  with  Stephens -Re  turns  for  the  Fight  in  Ireland 
—Letter  on  the  Alms  of  the  "Provisional  Government." ,.     103 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  M'CAFFERTY. 
Arrested— Tried— Half-Alien  Jury  because  he  Is  an  American— Acquitted 
—Envoy  from  Ireland  to  America— Address  at  the  Great  Jones'  Wood 
Meeting  In  New  York— Goes  Bock -The  Affair  at  Chester— Second  Ar- 
rest-In the  Dock- Corydon's  Evidence— Found  Guilty— Speech  In  the 
Dock-In  his  Cell J?? 

COLONEL-  JOHN  J.  O'CONNOR. 
Bom  on  Valentla  Island- Emigrates  to  America— Runs  off  and  Joins  the 
Union  Array—Long  Service— Promotion— Gallant  Action  at  Spottsylva- 
nia— Wounded  at  Cold   Harbor— First  Lieutenant— Captain— Seriously 


1 


CONTENTS. 

WonnflorT  \((H\n  at  Potrtwunr;?— tn  romm(in(t  of  his  nnjrJiticnt-Wr.e- 
torod  Out  -(J()u>4  to  Iroliui.l— ()r,'iuiizoH  Korry-Tlio  UIhIiil,'  -Stiit.'in«at 
In  the  Iloiirtoof  I^rds-iloportor  ArroatodforToloijmphtnir  Mllltiiry  Dig- 
aff.M-tloim-O Connor  sont  to  Amorica-IIU  AildrMua  to  the  Public— Or- 
ganizing Tour.,.,   ...        ,.   ...,,, ,.,..... 


104 


CAPTAIN  MORTIMER  MORIARTf, 
First  Ponfftn  Organizer  In  Oanada-Arrested  Qalag  to  Canipo  Bollo-Es- 
capo8-Ooo«  tolroland-ln  K.Try-Arr.)Htod  on  his  Way  to  Tako  Com- 
niand-Oaune  of  hia  Arrest-Wlmt  Followod-Trlal-Evldonce  of  the  Spy 
Talbot-Found  Guilty-Sontonce ^..„».*...», ...200 

JOSEPH  NOONAN. 

fOntwlth  O'Connor'^— Arrostodln  London -Marvolous  Escape  ftora  hit 
Captors-Ro-Arreatod  at  Athoratana-Brought  to  Dublin -Itlot  In  Klliar- 
noy— Trial— Sentence. 


218 


CAPTAIN  MICHAEL  ORORKE. 
♦'  0'  Rorko.  alias  Boecher  "-Blrth-Pamily  Kmljfrate  to  New  York-M.-m- 
orieb  of  the  Boy  Make  him  a  Robol-Jolna  the  Phcenlx  Brlfjade— Entura 
the  United  Statea  Service -Irish  Lei,'ion-8ad  Scone  at  the  Battle  of 
Spottaylvanla-Hla  Father  Klllod-Takon  Priaoner-Muaterod  Out-Ooea 
to  Ireland -Ilia  Duties  in  England  and  Ireland -Narrow  Eacape  from 
Oorydon— Sent  to  No w  York 


223 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANT, 
Birth-Early -Writings  for  the  Proaa-Publiahoa  a  Vohime  of  Poema  at  Six- 
teen-0'Connoir8Reporter-E.^tabli8hea  the  Irish  National  Magazine- 
la  the  Clnha-On  the  Irish.  Trihwie-Bromn  and  Meany  Teat  the  Bight 
of  the  Police  to  Sell  the  National  Journaia-Arreatcd  Under  the  Suspen- 
sion of  Habeas  Corpus,  ISW-Reloased  -Journalla-.n  -Emigrates  to  the 
United  Statea -Editor  of  the  Toledo  (Ohl  )  Commercia/-Centre-At  the 
Third  Congresa-A  Senator-Address  to  the  Parent  Trunk  of  Feninniara 
—Resolutions  at  Jonea'  Wood -Goes  to  England -Arrested -Tried  for 
Treaaon-Felony-Pino  Speech  in  the  Dock-Expoaes  Overtures  Made  to 
Him  to  Betray  the  Fenians— Sentenced 231 

"                                    CAPTAIN  P.  J,  CONDON. 
Ifonth  and  School  Days-Emigrates  to  Amerlca-Entera  the  Army-In  the 
Irish  Brigade-Goea  to  Iroland-Arrested-Correapondence  with  U.  S. 
Consul-Liberated— Goes  a  Second  Time  to  Ireland-Arrested  Airain— 
Tried— Acquitted 


254 


PETER  O'NEILL  CROWLEY.  JOHN  EDWARD  KELLY,  CAPTAIN 

JOHN  McCLURE. 
Three  Fenians  give  Battle  to  the  Waterford  Column  and  Police-Sketch  of 
Peter  O'Neill  Orowley— Martyrdom  of  hia  Uncle,  Father  O'Neill— Tlw 


8 


CONTEM-S. 


Mnrtyr'B  Heir— His  High  CTiaracter— Sketch  of  John  Edward  Kelly— 
Goc'f  to  Echool  in  Haliiax— Emigrates  to  T3oston — BeccmeB  aPilnter— 
Joint  ihe  Fenians  in  New  York— Passion  for  Mil'tary  knowledge— In- 
structs the  Emmet  Guards  in  Boston— Goes  to  Irelanu—iiiiLtary  Instruct- 
or in  Cork— Views  on  Irish  Eevolution— Duties  as  Agent  of  the  I.  R.  B. 
—Plans  at  the  Time  of  the  Rising— Sketch  of  John  McClure— Native  of 
New  York— Joins  the  11th  N.  Y.  V.  Cavalry— Service— Mustered  Gut — 
Goes  CO  Ireland— Attacks  Knockadoou  Station- Crowley,  Kelly  and  Mc- 
Clure  ii)  the  Mountains— Fight  in  Kilcloony  Woods— Capture  of  McCJure 
anrl  K(-lly— Death  of  Crowley— His  Funeral— Popular  SymT^athy- Mc- 
Clure  and  Kelly  in  the  Dock— Manly  Speeches— Sentence 2C1 

MICHAEL  DOHENY,  GENERAL  MICHAEL  CORCORAN,  JOHN 
O'MAHONY,  JAJVIES  STEPHENS. 

Sketch  of  Michael  Doheny— Youth  at  the  Plough— Desire  for  Knowledge— 
,;itudie8  Greek  anU  Latin— Life  in  London— Writes  for  the  Press— Admit- 
ted 10  the  Bar— National  Orator  !n  the  O'Connell  Movements— Joins 
Young  Ireland  Party,  and  Writes  for  the  Nation  and  rribvne— 
Escap-iP  to  France  and  Comes  to  America— Life  in  New  York- Hopes  for 
Trcland— Death.  Sketch  of  General  Corcoran— Son  of  a  Half-Pay  Officer 
—In  the  Constabulary— Emigrates  to  America— Joins  the  69th  N.  Y.  S. 
M.  -Orderly  Sergennt,  Lieutenant,  Captain— Complimented  hy  the  In- 
spector-General—Elected  Colonel— Refuses  to  Parade  the  69th  in  Honor 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales— Court-Martialed— Breaking  Out  of  the  Rebellion 
—Advises  the  69th  to  go  to  the  War— Court-Martial  Qutished,  and  Popu- 
lar Applause— Services  of  the  69lh— Crrcoran  Captured  ai  Bull  Run— In 
Prison— Held  as  Hostage  for  a  Privateer— Cabinet  Council  on  Exciianj^e 
of  Prisoners- Liberated— Great  0\ation— In  "-e  Field  Again  with  the 
Irish  Legicn— Defeats  Pryor  and  Baffles  Longi^u-eet-Defence  of  Washing- 
ton—Death.  Sketch  of  John  O'Mnhony— Porition  in  M8— What  Influ- 
eiiced  his  Political  Career— Hereditary  Disputes  Between  the  O'Mahonys 
and  the  Earls  of  Kingston— Death  of  O'Mahony's  Father— Leaving  the 
Family  Residence  at  Kilbenny— First  Ideas  on  the  Land  Question— Shel- 
tevs  th3  Young  Ireland  Outlaws— Joined  by  Savage- The  "  Reaping  of 
Moiilough  "—Risings  in  Septtmber- Projects  the  Release  of  OBrien— 
Perilous  Escapj— To  Wales— To  France.  Sketch  of  James  Stephens- 
Civil  Engineer— In  Kilkenny  in  '48— Takes  Charge  of  O'Donohue  en 
rnt  te  to  Smith  O'Brien— Remains  with  the  Latter— At  Killcnanle  and  Bal- 
Hngarry- On  the  Hills— Escnpes  to  France— O'Mahony  and  Stephens  in 
Paris—Join  a  Revolutionary  Sciety— O'Mahony  a  Gaelic  Tutor- Ste- 
phens the  French  Trans'  tor  of  Dickens-  O'jUahony  Goes  to  America— 
Stejdiens  to  i.  ir.nd— Arrested-  Repudiates  British  La.v  i:efore  the  Mag- 
istrates-Escape from  Prison— In  America— Retirement— O'Mahony  De- 
fines his  PiCecnt  Position 


280 


TH^.Mi».S    CLARKE  LUBY. 
ioins  Young  Ireland  In  M8,  and  Gives  up  his  Worldly  Prospects— In  a 
Kaw  Movemen!  ii  '49-  Arrested— Paaiotism  vs.  Family  Patronage— Na- 


ooNTEjrrs. 


9 


ttom  Jonrrallsm-TravolB  with  Stephens-Appearances  In  PufcHc- 
V  eifcs  America-The  IrM  People  Svi^ed-Arrested-The  Special  Com- 
mi  slon  the  First  Since  the  Trial  of  Emmoi,  In  Dublin-Speech  in  the 
^ock- Repudiates    Assassination -Sentence -Interesting   Sketch   of 

Phihp  Gray  by  Mr.  Luby ^  o,, 

• 317 

PHILIP    GRAY. 

Remain,  in  the  South  after  '48-With  O'Mahony  and  Savage-Hardships- 

328 

JOHN  O'LEAEY. 

''"  Arconl?  Vl!r7~'^'"l^  I^fluences-O'Leary  a  Man  of  Moans 
-At  Colk-ge^-Goes  to  France-To  America- Returns  to  London  and 

/.t  "Tr!"'^"'''™ ''^  ^'"'"^'^  Cause-Spreading  the  Fenian  OrgaM 
zation-The  /n,/,,  Peoj>ie~TM  Sagacity  with  which  it  was  Conducfed- 
Arrested-In  Court-The  Tral-Speech  in  the  Dock-Sentence..  ".!.. .  336 

JEREMIAH    O'DONOVAN  (ROSSA). 
^'''"i?.^?''^  Struggles-Goes  to  Skibbereen-National  Views  of  Rossa 
andM   Moynaban-Starts  the  Pha-nix  Society-Its  Character  and  Pro! 
gress-Scares  the  Peace-Mongers-Eevival  Throughout  Cork  and  Kerry 
-Members  of  the  Society  Arrested-Mr.  O'Sullivan  (Agreem)  Convicted 
-Cork  Prisoners  offered  Liberty,  but  Refuse  Unless  Agreem  is  Liber 
ated  also-Ros.a  Prevents  Illumination  for  the  Prince  of  Wales-Pa 
rades  for  the  Poles-Comes  to  New  York-Returns- A  Manager  of  ^e 

st.  T'^v  "■''^"^~'^""'-^''''"^«  Himself-Detiance  of  the  Court 
-Special  Vengeance  on  Him-Uarsh  Sentence-Cruel  Treat mentTn 
Pnson-Notices  of  Captain  William  O'Shea,  Mortimer  7Ioynahan,  Colo- 

nelP.J.  Downing  and  Colonel  D.J.  Downino-  "     .. 

° «j44 

CHARLES  JOSEPH  KICKHAM. 
His  Family-Sad  Accident  when  a  Boy-A  Sludent-His  Love  of  Rural     • 
Sports-ln  the  Cabins  of  the  Poor-Forms  a  Club  in  '4&_Literature 
-Espouses  Keogh's  and  Sadlier's  Tenant-Right  Party-Treachery  of  tie 
Leaders-Literalure  Again-Becomes  a  Fcnian-Arrest-Trial-Defen  s 
Bimself-Speech  in  the  Dock-Scntence-Cruel  Treatment  in  Prison   !  353 

DENIS  DOWLING  MULCAHY. 

Sonol  a  Patriotic  Tarmer-Fenian  Propagandist-Studies  Medicine-H's 
Fine  Api>carnnce-Arrosted-Tnal-Spc.ch  in  the  Dock-Colloquy  with 
the  Judi,e-  Guilty-Sentcnce-Suflerings  in  Prison-Writ  of  Error  ....     ggg 

JOHN  FLOOD,  EDWARD  DUFFY,  MICHAEL  CODY 
Flood  Arrested  with  McCflerty-Aids  to  Release  Stephens-Position  in 
he    Organization.    Dnlly   Arrested    with    Stephens-Sick  in  Prison- 
L,berated-Re-Arrested  and  Identified-Trials -Flood,  Duffy  and  Cody 
found  Guilty-Their  Speeches  in  the  Dock-Sentences  o,^ 

1»  <»'* 


I 


10 


0ONTENT8. 


GENERAL  JOHN  O'NEILL. 
Birth— Local  Inspiration  at  Clontibret— Emigrates  to  U.  S.— At  Basiness— 
Military  Loaniny:B— Goes  to  tlie  Mormon  War— The  Rebellion-Ser- 
vices In— Promotions— Military  Instructor— Lieutenant  of  the  5th  In- 
diana Cavalry— His  Dash— Whips  Morgan's  Men  at  Bufflngton  Bar— Sick 
— Pigliting  Again— Resigns— Romantic  Marriage— A  Fenian— The  Repre- 
sentative Man  of  the  Canadian  Party— The  Invasion  of  Canada— He 
Commands  the  Expedition— Battle  of  Ridgeway— Conflict  at  Port  Erie 
—Not  Supported— Arrested  by  U.  S.  Authorities  while  lie-crossins 383 

DECL.\RATIONS  IN  THE  DOCK. 
Moore,  the  Pikomaker -John  Haltigan— Bryan  Dillon— John  Lynch— Jere- 
miah O' Donovan— Thomas  Duggan— Charles  Underwood  O'Connell— J. 
B.S.Casey  ("TheGaltee  Boy ")— Michael  O'Regan— John  Kinnealy— 
James  O'Connor— C.  M.  O'Keeffe— Cornel 'us  O'Mahony— C.  Dwyer 
Keane— Martin  Ilanly  Carey- Daniel  O'Connell— William  Francis  Roan- 
tree— Patrick  John  neyburnc— James  Flood— Hugh  Francis  Brophy— 
Patrick  Doran— M.  A.  O'Brennau 39g 

SWORD  AND  PEN. 
Captain  J.  A.  Geary— In  the  War— Starts  a  Circle  in  Lexington— Goes  to 
Ireland— His  Wit  Saves  Him  from  Arrest  in  Dublin— Shoots  a  Head  Con- 
stable who  Attempts  to  Arrest  Him  in  Limerick— Sheltered  by  the 
Priests— Arrives  in  New  York -At  Ridgeway.  Captain  Jas .  Murphy— 
In  the  War- Goes  to  Ireland-Ar-ested— Released— Re-Arrested— False 
Imprisonment— Comes  Back  to  America.  Arrested.  John  K.  Casey 
("  Leo")— Arrested— Opinions  of  his  Poetry  John  Locke  ("  The  Southern 
Gael")— His  Talents  and  Nationally— Arrested— The  "Council  of  Ten" 
Arrested— Names  of  the  Members.  Arthur  Forrester.  Gen.  Fariola- 
List  of  School-Masters  Active  Fenians 421 

DARING  ESCAPES. 
John  Kirwan— In  Papal  Brigade— An  Active  Fenian  Centre— Wounded  at 
Tallaght— Arrested— Placed  in  the  Meath  Hospital— His  Escape  from  it. 
Colonel  Leonard  Takes  Part  in  the  Drogheda  Rising— Mysterious  Ap- 
pearance ill  a  House,  and  Escape  from  it— Arrest  of  Colonel  T.  J. 
Kelly  and  Captain  Dacey  in  Manchester— Remanded— Crowds  in  Court 
—Driven  oflF  in  the  Prison  Van  Handcuffed  and  Guarded  by  Police— 
The  Police  and  Mob  Defeated— The  Van  Broken  Open  and  the  P-isun- 
ers  Released.  Wild  Excitement.  Captain  Dacey.  Captain  Lawrence 
O'Brien— Goes  to  Ireland— Arrested— Committed  for  Trial— Bold  and 
Mysterious  Esf^pe  from  Clonmel  Jail 433 

CRUISE  OF  THE  "ERIN'S  HOPE," 443 

WILLLAM  J.  NAGLB  AND  JOHN  WARREN. 
Arrested— Position  as  American  Citizens— What  is  Citizenship 450 

.0 


ill 


THE  STRUGGLE  FOR  IRISH  NATIONAUTT. 


■*♦►- 


CHAPTER  I. 

IRISH  PEmCIPLES  AND  ENGLISH  INTEEEST. 

The  Stuart  Policy  to  Create  an  English  Interest  In  Ireland-CompHcatlons 

S  m!,  "'"T  ''''  '"^'^-^'^^  ^^°^'  Laws-Protestant  Patriotf- 

?  ooerBa  iri""  '"f  ^"^^^-^h^^bald  Wolfe  Tone  puts  Irish  Politics  on  the 
Proper Bass-Revolut.on  of '82  a  Failure-Protestants,  Dissenters,  Catholics 
-United  Inshnaen-War  of '»8-Patriotic  Priest-Generals-The  "Union  "Dr 
Johnson  and  Byron  on-The  Irish  Exiles  in  France-Buonaparte  and  Tklley 
rand-Emmet^s  Rebellion-Davis  on  Catholic  Emancipation  andRepealL 
OConnell  and  Grattan -Young  Ireland-Davis-Irish  Confederation-The 
Famine  and  Coercion-Mitchell  and  the  Rising  of  '48. 

"  Eighty-two"  and  "  Ninety-Eiglit »  stand  out  prom- 
inently in  Irish  history.  The  last  quarter  of  the 
eighteenth  century  is  a  monumental  era— recording 
the  achievement  of  the  legislative  independence,  the 
horrors  of  the  civil  war,  and  the  extinction  of  the 
Irish  Parliament.  Few,  save  students  of  history,  look 
beyond  these  great  events;  but,  through  the  two  cen- 
turies  previous,  there  was  enacted  a  wild  and  fero- 
cious, a  romantic  and  remorseless  history  in  the  de- 


12 


PENIAN  HER0E9  AKD  MAHTTES. 


'if     : 


voted  island.  The  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries 
are  deeply,  horribly  saturated  in  Irish  blood.  But  the 
conflicts  cannot  reasonably  be  accounted  national,  al- 
though they  were  at  times  characterized  by  patriotic 
motives  and  elements.  They  were  the  natural  re- 
sults of  the  extermination  of  the  native  Irish,  and  the 
planting  of  their  inheritances  by  the  adherents  of 
James  the  First  and  his  successors— those  Stuarts, 
whose  primal  idea  was  to  create  and  sustain  "an 
English  interest  in  Ireland."  This  was  the  touch- 
stone of  the  Stuart  policy,  which  was  to  be  furthered 
and  fostered,  at  all  hazards,  by  every  intrigue,  and  the 
sacriiice  of  every  vow  and  tie,  religious,  legal  and  polit- 
ical. 

The  wars  which  grew  out  of  these  land  questions, 
together  with  the  risings  and  revolts  of  a  more 
avowed  patriotic  character,  became  as  frequent,  as 
complicated,  as  inveterate,  as  treacherous  and  bloody 
as  a  number  of  rival  parties,  all  hating  each  other, 
and  each  ready  to  join  the  English  to  weaken  the 
others,  could  make  them.  Thus  the  English  Protest- 
ants and  English  Catholics  in  Ireland  alternately  feared 
and  hated  the  English  ascendancy,  according  as  it  was 
manifested  by  a  Cromwell  or  a  William  of  Orano-e  in 
opposition  to  the  Catholics,  or  by  a  Charles  the  Se- 
cond or  a  James  the  Second  in  supposed  oiDposition  to 
the  Protestants,  but  who  were  actually  intriguing  to 


f 


I 


MM) 


HISTORICAL  INTEODtJCTIOir. 


13 


as 


conciliate  them.  While  the  English  Protestants  and 
Catholics  were  thus  afraid  and  watchful  of  each 
other  on  religious  grounds,  as  the  Government  pa- 
tronized or  persecuted  them  respectively,  they  had, 
at  the  same  time,, an  identity  of  interest  in  hating, 
watching,  and  uniting  against  the  natives. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  memory  and  result  of  con- 
fiscations and  pillage  had  overcome,  if  they  had  not 
totally  swept  away,  all  the  tolerant  amenities  which 
a  common  religion  might  be  supposed  to  protect. 
The  Irish  Catholic  hated  the  English  Catholic   as 
much  as  the  English  Protestant  feared  both.     Tlie 
old  Irish  were  jealous  of,  and  would  not  coalesce  with, 
the  Irish  of  English  descent;  while  distrust  on  every 
Bide  created  and  excused  unnatural  apathy,  where  it 
did  not  inspire  ignoble  treachery.      But  for  these 
feuds   and  follies  Cromwell  could   not  have  struck 
terror  throughout  the  island,  sacrificing  not  only  the 
Irish,  but  the  Catholics  of  English  extraction,  who  were 
not  less  antagonistic  to  the  older  natives  than  himself. 
As  Cromwell  beat  the  Stuarts  in  the  field,  so  did 
he  outshine  them  in  the  magnitude  of  his  confisca- 
tions.    He  signalized  it  by  blood  and  tears  in  the 
four  provinces.     He  extended  tlie  Plantation  of  Ul- 
ster, divided  Leinster  and  Munster  among  his  soldiers 
and  money-lenders,  and  sent  those  he  had  not  time  to 
massacre  to  "  Hell  or  Connaught." 


n 


14  FENIAN  IIEK0E8  AND  MAETYE8. 

Oliver's  death  and  tlio  Restoration  of  tlie  Monar- 
chy  and  the  Stuarts,  brouglit  some  uneasiness  to  tlie 
Puritan   settlers.     Tlie  Loyalists  who  had  lost  their 
properties   supporting   the   Stuart   cause   in   Ireland, 
claimed  the  restitution  of  their  estates.     This  would 
have  been  just,  but  it  would  also  have  interfered  with 
the  establishment  of  an  "English  interest  in  Ireland," 
by  giving  power  and  influence  into  the  hands  of  Irish 
Chieftains.     These  land  claims  were  subjected  to  te- 
dious routine,  forms,  equivocation,  and  fi'nally  an  Act 
of  Settlement,  which,  passed  by  a  Parliament  from 
which  Catholics  were  excluded,  naturally  ignored  all 
interests  save  those  of  Protestants. 

Thus  the  unfortunate  and  beggared  Catholic  cava- 
hers  who  had  supported  Charles  the  First,  were  denied 
recognition  or  restitution  when  his  dynasty  was  restor- 
ed.    The  successful  enemies  of  Charles  beggared  the 
Irish  Catholics  for  supporting  him.     The  successful 
friends  of  Charles  kept  them  in  beggary.     A  compli- 
cation  of  circumstances  still  controlled  the  destinies  of 
these  insulted  people  to  the  Stuart  interest;  and  they 
had  the  further  ill-fate  of  shedding  more  blood,  and 
freely  spilling  their  own  for  that  ungrateful  race  in  tho 
succeeding  reign.     Their  wrongs  and  their  errors  forc- 
ed them  to  join  with  James  the  Second,  because  the 
Cromwellians  (as  the  settlers  under  « the  Protector" 
and  their  descendants  were  called)  and  Protestants 


HISTORICAL   INTRODUOTION, 


15 


espoused  the  cause  of  William,  to  save  their  holdings 
in  Ireland,  already  put  in  jeopardy  by  tlie  repeal  of 
the  Act  of  Settlement,  under  which  they  liad  revelled 
in  the  forfeited  estates  of  the  Irish  victims  of  the  four 
previous  reigns.    The  exigencies  of  the  English  planter 
«ird  Cromwellian  land-owner  gave  hope  to  the  ejected 
Irish  Catholic,  and  he  attached  himself  to  the  fortunes, 
or  rather,   as  it  proved,  misfortunes  of  James,  not 
through  any  great  faith  in  him,  or  love  for  him ;  but 
simply  because  it  was  the  only  opportunity  of  striking 
a  blow  at  the  English  interest,  as  represented  by  the 
adheients  of  William  of  Orange— that  very  English 
interest  which  it  was  the  subtle  purpose  of  J  ames  him- 
self to  perpetuate.     Through  a  consciouRuess  of  the 
double  part  he  was  playing,  James,  while  he  threw 
himself  on  the  faith  of  the  Irish,  was  so  distrustful  of 
them,  coupled  with  the  desire  to  conciliate  some  of  the 
Protestant  leaders,  that  he  disbanded  several  Irish  re- 
giments soon  after  his  arrival.     He  was  a  mean  and 
irresolute  leader,  seeking  to  achieve  by  a  self-delusive 
vacillation,  which  he  thought  diplomacy,  the  power 
he  should  have  grasped  by  an  assured  victory.     No 
better  indication  of  his  character  is  needed  than  that  ' 
given  by  Sarsfield  on  the  retreat  from  the  Boyne,  when 
James's  distrust  of  his  adherents  breaking  forth,  the 
Irish  officer  exclaimed :  "  Exchange  but  kings,  and  we 
fight  the  battle  over  again." 


iQ 


f» 


FENIAN  HEROEa  AKD  MAKTYRS. 


Tho precipice  upon  wliicli  tlio  Englisli  interest  in  Ire- 
l^md  stood  during  tlio  Willianiite  war,  and  until  the 
IrcHtj  of  Lmiorick,  warned  it  against  being  found  in 
such  a  dangerous  position  in  any  futnre  Jn.ergencv. 
To  prevent  tlio  possibility  of  a  recurrence,  tho  PenLl 
laws  were  established-a  code  whieli,  as  a  deep  stu- 
dent and  shrewd  political  pliilosoplier  of  Irisli  birth 
wlio  devoted  In's  life  and  intellect  to  tho  glory  of  Encr! 
land,  Edmund  Burke,  said,  "was  a  machine  of  wi"o 
and  elaborate  contrivance,  as  well  fitted  for  tho  oppres- 
sion, impoverishment  and  degradation  of  a  people,  and 
the  debasement  in  them  of  human  nature  itself   as 
ever  proceeded  Irom  tho  perverted  ingenuity  of  man  » 
This  terrible  legal  extermination  of  tho  Irish  emanated 
less  from  intolerance  than  inhumanity,  for  the  con- 
trivers were  too  crafty  to  be  fanatics,  and  only  heart- 
less and  remorseless  enough  to  be  despots,  in  tho  widest 
and  meanest  acceptation  of  tho  term.     Intended  to 
send  all  Catholics  to  tho  grave,  the  Penal  Code  took 
hold  of  them  in  tho  cradle. 

The  children  of  Catholics  could  not  bo  educated  in 
Ireland  save  by  Protestant  teachers,  and  could  not  be 
sent  out  of  Ireland  without  being  guilty  of  a  Penal 
offence.  Catholic  children  were  to  be  educated  in  the 
English  interest  or  not  at  all  ;-their  brains  were  to  be 
kindled  by  the  light  of  Protestant  wisdom,  or  left  in 
total  darkness. 


Mi 


ffiSTOBIOAL  INTBODtJCTIOir.  17 

E,^ery  profession,  save  that  of  medicine,  was  forbid- 
den to  tl>o  CatLolie.      Even  tI,o,,,h   eduea.ed   I  'a 
Protestant,  the  CntLolie  student  or  scholar  eonld  not 
Boelc  the  reward  of  cultivation  in  any  save  one  of  tho 
.era,  pro  essions-nnless  he  disclaimed  his  fatheJ 
iehg,on  and  claimed  his  father's  property 

In  the  trade  and  commerce  of  all  corporate  towns, 

Cathohes  were  held  as  pirates  and  outlaws;   bein: 

^•■d  y  excluded  from  joining  or  participating  ^.erein! 

In  these  towns,  a  Catholic  could  not  sell  anything 

save  iiimsclf.  -^      ^ 

land  f„  a  longer  tenure  than  thirty-one  years. 

Ko  Catholic  could  inherit  the  lands  of  a  Pretestant 
lelattve,  or  own  a  horse  of  greater  value  than  five 
pounds.  If  be  was  possessed  of  a  valuable  animaT 
any  I^-otestant  jockey  or  gentleman,  or  both  in  T ' 
cojd  fancy  .t  and  take  it  by  paying  five  pounds.        ' 

^  A  Cathol^  elnld,  becoming  a  Protestant,  could  sue 
ns  parents  for  maintenance,  the  amount  to  be  decided 
hy  tho  Court  of  Chancery. 

An  eldest  son   oecoming  a  Protestant  made  hi, 

f  '       '     "        '"  '■*■"'  "^''"'°"  '•"  f-  I^-S  -cured 
to  «.e  convert,  with  a  proviso  limiting  the  portion  of 
all  the  rest  of  the  family  to  one-third 
Pnests  were  hunted  like  w^olves,  and  a  reward  and 
.pond  g.ve„  to  any  who  would  become  a  lamb  wiZu 
the  Cromweman  fold. 


!l 


I- 


iihi 


18 


FENUN   HEROES   AND  MAKTYE8. 


Davis  has  well  epitomized  these  Penal  Laws  in 

verse : 

«♦  They  bribed  the  flock,  they  bribed  the  son, 
To  sell  the  priest  and  rob  the  sire ; 
Their  dogs  were  taught  alilce  to  run 
Upon  the  scent  of  wolf  and  friar. 
Among  the  poor 
Or  on  the  moor, 
Were  hid  the  pious  and  the  true — 
While  traitor  knave, 
And  recreant  slave, 
Had  riches,  rank,  and  retinue." 

The  history  of  Ireland,  during  the  Penal  Days,  is 
dark  and  gloomy  enough.     Occasionally  we  find  great 
utterances  from  noble  Protestant  men  in  behalf  of  the 
general  rights  of  the  kingdom ;  such  as  Molyneux'  Case 
of  Ireland,  Swift's  Drapier  Letters,  and  Dr.  Charles 
Lucas's  persistent  protestations  against  the  encroach- 
ments on  the  Constitution.    Molyneux'  brave  little 
book  was  burned  by  the  common  hangman  ;  a  reward 
was  offered  for  the  discovery  of  the  Drapier,  and  his 
printer  arrested ;  and  Lucas  had  to  exile  himself  into 
England,  to  escape  the  laws  enacted  by  and  for  the 
English  interest  in  Ireland.    A  still  stranger  commen- 
tary on  the  laws  of  those  days  is  afforded  by  the  fact 
that  the  principles  for  which  Lucas  had  to  fly  from  Ire- 
land were  extolled  in  England,  and  drew  from  such  a 
cast-iron  Tory  as  Samuel  Johnson,  the  strongest  en- 
comiums.   Indeed,  Johnson's  allusions  to  Lucas  are 


HISTORICAL    INTRODUCTION. 


19 


aws  in 


Oays,  is 
id  great 
if  of  the 
ix'  Case 
Charles 
icroach- 
e  little 
,  reward 
and  his 
;elf  into 
for  the 
ommen- 
the  fact 
'roin  Ire- 
1  such  a 
gest  en- 
Licas  are 


quoted  to  show  that  the  former  was  greatly  mi.srepre- 
sented  by  those  who  regarded  him  as  "  ahjectly  eub- 
missive  to  power."  "  Let  the  man,"  says  Johnson, 
"  thus  di-iven  into  exile,  for  having  been  the  friend  of 
his  country,  be  received  in  every  other  place  as  the 
confessor  of  liberty ;  and  let  the  tools  of  power  be 
taught  in  time,  that  they  may  rob,  but  cannot  impov- 
erish." 

Though  having  a  patriotic  purpose  none  of  the  en- 
deavors of  those  able  men  might  be  accounted  na- 
tional in  the  correct  sense  of  that  idea.      Molyneux' 
was  perhaps  the  most  so,  though  Swift's  subtle,  blunt, 
and  polished  philippics  against  the   introduction   of 
Wood's  half-pence,  created  the  most  universal  excite- 
ment,  and  succeeded  in    accomplishing   the    object 
sought.     The  labors  of  those  trusty  men  are  famous 
because  they  were  famous  in  their  day.     They  were 
ahead  of  their  surroundings  in  vigor  of  conception  and 
boldness  of  expression,  and  deserve  all  pi-aise.     It  re- 
mained, however,  for  Theobald  Wolfe  Tone  to  give  a 
positive  character  to  the  Irish  mind  in  politics.    Other 
and  able  men  looked  to  concessions.     lie  alone  re- 
garded Eights. 

They  were  hampered  by  illustrating  ideas  which  in 
various  forms  already  existed.  Basing  his  views  solely 
on  the  Eights  of  Ireland,  and  not  contemplating  the 
welfare  of  England,  with  which  he  deemed  he  had  no 


20 


yjSNIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTTRfl. 


concern,  Tone  brcatlicd  a  new  lifo  into  and  unveiled  a 
vast  and  fresh  purpose  to  tliose  wlio  desired  tl.e  bene- 
lit  of  the  Irisli  people  in  Ireland.     Otliei^  Imd  fonoht 
parties,  and  for  sueeesses  wliieh  left  large  portionrof 
the  people  in  as  dark  despondency  and  degi-adation  as 
before.     Tone  labored  to  unite  all,  and  as  he  said,  to 
Bubstitute  the  common  name  of  Irishman  in  place  of 
the  distmetions  which  had  been  used  to  keep  them 
asunder.     He  withstood  the  temptations  of  mere  poli- 
tics  as  a  means  of  personal  advancement,  and  discarded 
the  overtures  made  to  him  by  leading  parliamentarians 
of  the  day.     The  ground  upon  which  they  stood  was 
confined,  the  prospect  presented  was  narrow,  because 
the  purposes  contemplated  wore  selfish  and  purely  self- 
reflective. 

When  Tone  suiweyed  the  state  of  Ireland  he  saw 
her  mferior  to  no  country  in  Europe  in  the  gifts  of  na- 
ture;  blest  with  a  temperate  sky  and  a  fruitful  soil- 
intersected  by  many  great  rivers;  indented  round  her 
whole  coast  with  the  noblest  harbors;  abounding  with 
all  the  materials  for  unlimited  commerce;   teemin<. 
^ith  inexhaustible  mines  of  the  most  useful  metals'^ 
filled  by  four  millions  of  an  ingenious  and  gallant  peo' 
ple-with  bold  hearts  and  ardent  spirits;  posted  i.oht 
m  the  track  between  Europe  and  America,  within  iiity  \ 
miles  of  England  and  three  hundred  of  France;  yet 
with  all  these  great  advantages  «  unheard  of  and  un- 


<i\>. 


mSTORICAL  INTRODtrCTIOIT. 


21 


known,  without  prido  or  power,  or  name;  without 
ftuihiissadori^,  nniiy  or  navy;  not  of  hiilf  tho  conse- 
qnoneo  in  the  empire,  of"  whieh  she  has  tho  honor  to 
make  a  })art,  witli  the  8in<iflo  eounty  of  York,  or  tho 
k^yal  and  wcll-roguhited  town  of  JJirminj^diam."  Ilo 
truly  argued  tliese  were  mortifyiunr  considerations. 

The  so-called  "  revolution"  of  1782  had  been  accom- 
plished. Henry  Grattan,  backed  by  the  arms  of  the 
volunteers,  had  wrulig  from  England  the  concession 
that  no  power  had  tho  right  to  make  laws  for  Ireland 
but  the  King,  Lords,  and  Connnons  thereof;  but  the 
Irish  Parliament  became  only  the  shadow  of  the  Eng- 
lish one.  The  achievement  of  Grattan  left  the  power 
on  a  broader  basis  than  before  in  the  hands  of  the  Pro- 
testant ascendancy.  Tone  read  aright  the  effects  of 
the  "revolution;"  and  had  the  courage  to  speak  the 
truth  about  it.  Eight  years  after  it  had  been  on  trial, 
he  says:  "The  Eevolution  of  1782  was  a  Revolution 
which  enabled  Irishmen  to  sell,  at  a  much  lii<rher 
price,  their  honor,  thoir  integrity,  and  the  interests  of 
their  country ;  it  was  a  Revolution,  which,  while  at 
one  stroke  it  doubled  the  value  of  every  borough-mon- 
ger in  the  kingdom,  left  three-fourths  of  our  country- 
men slaves  as  it  found  them,  and  the  Government  of 
Ireland  in  the  base  and  wicked  and  contemptible 
hands,  who  had  spent  their  lives  in  degrading  and 
plundering  her ;  nay,  some  of  whom  had  gi\-en  their 


I 


'  ( 


';i 


fIJ  ;- 


22 

tlie  country  lost  hi.    i  "^"^^"^^  ^^^"^^^^  of 

Opposition?   Not  CM    „    ""  ^"""  «'« '•«°1«  of  tlie 
Hands  of  onr  enemie"        T  f  '"'"'''"'^'J  ''^  «- 

--Hi3ai..c::;jre];~r^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

es,  our  infurios    nn^  ^      •  -^  ^®  ^^a  our  distregs- 

'  Jjuues,  and  our  insults  m-atis    nf  f]^    i       . 

of  Endand-  but  Tin...  ^        '        *^'®  ^^^ds 

»     la,  out  now  we  pay  very  dpnvl^  f^ 

tbe  san>e  .ith  aggravation,  Lou/thelnd   JT^r 
-en ;  ,et  this  we  boast  of,  and  eSl  a  ^^^^^"^ 

xib^ocracj  and  lifted  no  weio-ht  fmm  +i 
tlie  DeoTilp      T]  .  .  '^^^to^t  irom  the  necks  of 

-o3;j;:s:::;-*;-^oatoias3. 

will  Bliow  to  anv  „«  ^- ,      ■  "^  '^"^''e  <^i"ded 

.     WsdednJoTs.     "'''"'"''  "^^'^'^-'•W  of 

J  in  easy  enjoyment  of  tlie  einireh  tl,B  I.       .-l 

revenue,  the  ai-rny,  the  navv  tl,„  ^'  *^^ 

Porations,  and  all   n  t  f  T^'        '"■■'S'^"-'"=y.  A'c  cor- 
'    "^  ""  institutions  receivin»  or  »vwj- 

=di:onitrr;"'--=^^-^^^^^^^^^ 

aloneheheldllrrint:-^^^^^^^^ 

est  in  Ireland;  and  England  mX       k    t        "'"'■ 

-e-es,  augmented  their"  ZL  1  et  tT   '    '    '  "'*■ 

perpetual  trepidation,  gave  tliem  '"  '  ''"'''  "' 

,  gave  tJiem  her  protection,  and 


:(!' 


5t  tin's  our 
nemies  of 
Wlio  was 
ks  of  the 
'd  in  the 
our  ruin, 
distress- 
le  hands 
'  receive 
oflrish- 
on !" 

lands  of 
lects  of 
classes 
livided 
bi'ce  of 


HISTORICAL   INTEODtTCTIOIT. 


23 


took  in  exchange  the  commerce  and  the  liberties  of 
Ireland.  The  events  of  the  American  Kevolution  em- 
boldened the  Catholics  and  Presbyterians,  and  forced 
the  Protestants  into  some  slightly  beneficial  measures 
of  redress,  but  they  remained  attached  to  their  pro- 
tectors, a  party  property,  an  aristocracy. 

The  Dissenters — double  in  numbers  to  the  Protest- 
ants— were  chiefly  manufacturers  and  traders,  and  did 
not  believe  their  existence  depended  on  the  immuta- 
bility of  their  slavishness  to  England.  "  Strong  in 
their  numbers  and  their  courage,  they  felt  that  they 
were  able  to  defend  themselves,  and  they  soon  ceased 
to  consider  themselves  as  any  other  than  Irishmen." 
They  formed  the  flower  of  the  Volunteer  Army  of  '82, 
and  were  the  first  to  demand  Eeform. 

The  Catholics  were  numerically  the  most  formi- 
dable, embracing  as  they  did,  the  peasantry  of  three 
provinces,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  business 
class.  The  exactions  of  the  Penal  Laws  had  left  them 
but  a  small  proportion  of  the  landed  interest.  "  There 
was  no  injustice,  no  disgrace,  no  disqualification,  moral, 
political  or  religious,  civil  or  military,  that  was  not 
heaped  upon  them."  Under  such  a  system,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  the  peasantry  were  both  morally  and  phy- 
sically degraded,  and  the  spirit  of  the  few  remaining 
gentry  broken. 
Tone  aspired  to  infuse  into  the  Catholics  a  spirit 


II  !!f' 


'It  , 

i 


2* 

•■WlAlf  BEEOES  Am  v,,^ 

»f  C'^il  and  religions  liberty     T, 
J-^fee  of  their  po,;ti„„  ^,,^-   .^"=  overwhelming  in- 

-"-  of  right  as  a  »an  as^lf      '"""""^  '»  ^- 
ffl^  desire  was  to  unite  ,  "  "'  ^"'^''-'^orn  man 

«'-  P-ont  to  the"        'r      "  ""  °--'-.  -d 
»d  the  eviis  of  En!  •  f  f''^^-"'"-'?  «>e  go.ern;ent 

«  ''ght.    His  objects  and  T  ""■'"""  '"  ^««™ 

cKeated.     "  To  s4.ert  IT"^  ""^  «"'^  '"--^1/  in- 
«ovo™„,ent,  to  break  the  nf"""^  "^  °"  ^'^ocrable 
«-  '--e.-fe".-ng  sour  e  of  !,?""'""  "''"'  ^"-^'^d, 
*«  --rt  the  ind;pend    elfl""'  ^"""''=^'  ^'^  "nd 
7  objects.     To  unite  the  l7  """""^-Aese  were 
«'^o'-h  the  memory  of  a      "  *  ''"'^''  °'  ^'■^'^"''.  *» 
f  ""e  the  common  nam    rif"™"''  »"^  '»  -"> 
<3«"ominations  of  Rotes  al   P t"'"' '"  ^'^^^  «f  'he 
-these  were  m^,«oans"'     '''"'''=  ^"^-^  ^--nter 

«o5;srSe:s:r^^^^^ 

;.'>oM  and  n,ight,  step  ^^^J^  ^  ^-'"^^d.    It  was 
d.sentangIepobtie3fi.„^X  '™  "^tionah'ty  to 

P'an  surn,o„nted  the  ^e£r;i'"" ''^^^-    ^o-'s 
-»de,he  island  for  cen  :      " i^™'"-  -^ch  i,ad 
-o-eless  depredation  on  the  o    T'*   ''  "  ^""^  '"  ^- 
'•^t"''"t.-on  on  tl,e  othe,     t°"^^^"<^.  -"d  as  savage 
^eended  from  such  reeH;,i 7"""'  *"  ^'«»ents  dl 

-'•""--"tofthe:rtt:::rr^^^^^^^^^ 

^  ^^la  Wood-anoint- 


inSTOEICAL  WTlJODCCnoN.  25 

ed  passions,  into  a  passion  for  an  ennobling  common 
oVct-to  bind  them  as  elose  in  ii-iendship  as  tbey 
had  been  knit  in  fight,  was  an  original,  daring,  and 
judged  by  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome,  almost  sub- 
lime  scheme. 

Tone  founded  the  first  Society  of  United  Irishmen 
on  urn,  October,  1T91.     On  the  l.th  Octob:; 
1798    the  sevent',  anniversary  of  the  foundation  of 
practical  patriotism  in  Ireland,  he  was  captured  on 
board  the  Mc^  74  guns,  the  admiral's  ship  of  a 
portion  of  the  third  expedition  he  had  projected  in 
Iranceand  Hamburg,  for  the  aid  of  Ireland.    Between 
those  dates  a  wonderfully  inspiring  history  was  enact- 
ed  m  Ireland.    United  Irishism  spread  into  all  ranks 
inflammg  alike  Catholic  peasants  and  Protestant  peera 
with  a  divine  fervor,  and  bringing  round  the  common 
altar  of  then-  country  noble  clergymen  of  every  d^ 
nommation.    The  Eev.  WiUiam  Jackson,  a  Protestant 
clergyman,  undertook  to  sound  the  Irish  in  1796  on 
the  sulycct  of  an  alliance  with  France,  was  betraVed 
by  an  English  attorney,  and  died  in  the  dock.    Messrs 
Warwick,  Stevelly,  and  William  Porter,  Presbyterian 
clergymen,  were  hanged.    Eev.  William  Steele  Dick- 
son, ot  the  same  denomination,  who  had  been  the  early 
a^iseiter  of  Ireland's  independence  and  advocate  of  his 
Uithohc  fellow-comitrymen,  was,  for  nearly  two  years 
Adjutant-General  of  the  United  Irish  of  Ulster    "  Bet' 


2e 


FENIAlf  niiBiOm  A5fl>  MAfiTYBS. 


ter  die  courageously  in  the  Held  than  be  butchered  in 
the  houses,"  said  Father  John  Murphy,  putting  him- 
Belf  at  the  head  of  his  flock,  after  the  yeoman  had 
burned  his  chapel  over  his  head,  in  May  '98.  The 
royalists  did  not  know  the  flame  they  were  kindling, 
when  they  set  fire  to  the  little  chapel  of  Boolavogue. 
"  We  must  conquer  or  perish"  cried  this  priest-leader 
to  his  pikemen,  at  Oulart  Hill,  and  they  conquered. 
This  reverend  General  Murphy  was  heard  fvom  at  the 
battle  of  Enniscorthy,  at  Yinegar  Hill,  and  other 
tough  conflicts :  as  also  were  Father  Philij>  Roche, 
who  commanded  at  the  bloody  fight  at  Tubberneering, 
where  Col.  Walpole  fell,  and  was  subsequently  elected 
generalissimo  of  the  Wexford  troops ;  and  the  soldier- 
priests,  Moses  Kearns  and  Nicholas  Redmond,  who 
drove  Col.  L'Estrange  and  his  dragoons  into  Newtown- 
barry,  and  even  had  the  audacity  to  engage  and  rout 
the  garrison  of  over  five  hundred  troops.  Kearns  sub- 
sequently made  a  desperate  defence  of  Enniscorthy 
against  General  Johnston,  and  carried  a  serious  wound 
from  the  fight,  which  led  to  his  capture.  Father 
Clinch,  with  those  named,  was  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  patriots  on  the  great  but  disastrous  day  of  Yine- 
gar Hill.  Another  prominent  and  brave  priest-leader 
was  Father  Michael  Murphy.  The  history  of  the  pa- 
triot priests  of  '98  affords  a  thrilling  chapter,  which 
should  be  separately  set  forth  for  the  sake  of  the  noble 


HISTORICAL  mTRODtTCTlOJT. 


27 


example  furnislied  by  their  devotion  and  sacrifices. 
Aroused  by  inlmman  barbarity  and  oppression,  they 
made  common  cause  with  their  persecuted  flocks. 
They  showed  them  how  to  fight  on  the  field ;  and 
how  to  die,  if  need  be,  on  the  scaffold,  as  did  Roche, 
John  Murphy,  Kearns,  Redmond,  Prendergast,  Quig- 
ley,  and  others.  Father  Michael  Murphy  was  vouch- 
safed the  nobler  death  on  the  field,  being  torn  to  pieces 
by  a  cannon-ball  while  leading  on  a  division  of  pike- 
men  at  the  battle  of  Arklow. 

The  war  for  national  independence,  projected  by 
the  United  Irishmen,  was  forced  into  a  premature 
explosion  by  the  government.  On  the  30th  March, 
1798,  Lord  Camden,  the  viceroy,  proclaimed  all  Ire- 
land imder  Martial  Law.  The  proclamation  was  a 
brutal  incentive  to  riot.  Armed  with  it  the  military 
and  "  authorities"  went  about  the  country  exasper- 
ating suspected  localities,  creating  feuds  for  the  sake 
of  punishing  individuals,  and  involving  individuals 
that  whole  districts  might  be  plundered.  What  was 
true  of  one  locality  was  but  too  true  of  all.  "  The  in- 
human tortures  instituted  by  the  yeomen,  the  barbari- 
ties inflicted  without  regard  to  age  or  sex,  the  scourg- 
ings,  pitch-caps,  house-bi'.-nings,  and  murders,  then 
drew  a  distinct  and  bloody  line  between  those  wlio 
acted  for,  and  under  the  j^rotection  of,  the  government 
and  the  people.     'No  man  was  safe,  no  woman  invio- 


I 


/ 


28 


PENIAK  HEROES  AND  MAfiTYRS. 


^  Je  pnvate  pique  found  vent  in  pnblie  vengeance; 
and  the  mag.stracy  felling  into  the  hands  of  Orange 
iact,o.«s,  was  at  once  witness,  judge,  jury  and  execu- 

While  the  people  on  the  one  hand  were  goaded  into 

u  bea..able  agony,  the  leaders  of  the  people  on  the 

other  hand  were  sei.ed,  hanged,  banished,  put  out  of 

he  way  w,th  indiscriminate  fury.     The  betrayal  of 

the  plans  and  several  prominent  leaders  by  the  infa- 

mous  Tho,a,.  Reynolds,  the  Arnold  of  Ireland,  on  the 

'  «1  tl'e  rising,  with  the  distraction  which  followed 

the  Lght  wh,ch  documentary  history  has  thiwn  on 
Wie  period,  the  chances  of  success  of  the  United  Irish 
men  loom  into  very  gi-eat  proportions,  while  the  des- 
tmies  of  England  seem  to  have  been  heid  by  a  very 
slender  thread      Madden  is  right  when  he  says  of  the 
United  Irish  Society,  that  «  whether  viewed  in  its  re- 
.  suits,  the  character  of  its  members,  or  the  nature  of  its 
proceedings,  it  may  certainly  be  regarded  as  a  confed- 
eracy  which  no  political  or  revolutionary  society  tint 
has  gone  before  it  has  surpassed  in  importancefb 'l  ' 
•ess  of  design,  and  devotion  to  its  principles."     On 
be  ot  ler  hand,  England's  incontrovertible  danger  may 
be  judged  from  the  fact  that  had  either  one  of  Tonel 


r 


H 


HISTORICAL    mTKODrCTTON-.  ^Q 

expeditions  been  favored  with  a  fair  wind  to  carry  it 
to  Its  destination,  England  could  not  have  held  Ireland, 
and  half  of  her  prestige  would  have  been  gone      It  is 
not  disputed  that  England  was  saved  by  the  elements 
that  scattered  Tone's  expeditions.      The  active  civil 
war  lasted  less  than  five  months,  that  is  from  the  ris- 
mg  of  the  people,  20th  May,  to  the  capture  of  Tone  . 
but  Its  extent,  and  the  vigor  with  which  it  was  sus' 
tamed  may  be  comprehended  from  its  cost  to  the  peo- 
pie   and  the  government.      The   English   employed 
137,000  men  to  suppress  the  « insurrection."    Its  cost 
m  money  is  variously  estimated  at  thirty  millions  and 
hfty  miUions  pounds  sterling.    The  English  lost  twen- 
ty  thousand  men ;  the  Irish  fifty  thousand.    The  royal- 
ists  received  one  and  a  half  millions  sterling  for  dam- 
ages to  property.     No  estimate  can  be  made  of  the 
damage  perpetrated  on  the  property  of  the  people 
It  may  be  indicated  by  the  fact  that  the  Catholic 
churches  burned,  of  which   any  account  was  kept 
amounted  to  sixty-nine.     This,  as  Madden  says,  "  may 
afford  some  criterion  by  which  we  can  judge  of  the 
number  and  extent"  of  other  outrages  on  property  be- 
longing to  persons  of  that  communion. 

The  "Union"  followed  the  "rebellion,"  and  in  the 
reckless  corruption  and  infamy  by  which  it  was  carried 
was  a  fitting  sequel  to  the  murderous  barbarity  by 
which   the  latter  was  precipitated    and    concluded. 


KJ 


O"  WOTAN   HEROM    ANT,  MARTYM. 

T«-cntv.-„no  year,   l,..fi,r„    «,«    TI„i„n   was    cffoctcd 
Oiiinilcl  .lolms.iir  well  (•hai-u-t,.,-!;,.,]  tl  •  , 

Joul,l  a„,l  ,1,.|  govern  KngUud  i„  «,c.l<i„,.  it.     «  Art- 
M  pol.tieians,"  „.  l!o,woll  clmracta-ixe.  tlu.„,  had 
cite,,  ,„  v,cw  a  Union  I.etweon  Ireland  and  England 
-^^.1779  Johnson,  e.,,re.i,,,,.in.e»-„„th:s„i 

"  Union  w,th  „,,  si,..  Wo  should  nnitc  with  you 
only  to  rob  yon.-  As  Johnson  indieated  the  s^it 
of  m,.n,o  wlueh  would  follow  a   Union,  so  Byron 

rtrw, '"'" '"'  ='<'-"'"■•«'-"'.  Btign^atized  and' 
l-^ated  the  rapaeious  dishonesty  of  the  measure. 
Ad.e„,"saKl  he,  "to  that  Union  so-called,  as  fo^^/j 

««.^«...,aUnionfron.nevernnitiu,,«;hieh,n;: 
fi  .  operat,on,  gave  a  death-blow  to  the  independence 
of  Ire  and,  and  in  its  last  n.ay  be  the  cause  of  h  , 

called  a  Un,on,  it  ,s  the  union  of  the  shark  with  its 
Key;   the  spoiler  swallows  up  his  victim,  and  thu 
«.ey  become  one  and  indivisible.     Thus  U  G 
Buta,n  swallowed  up  the  parliament,  the  constitution       ' 
the  md  pendenee  of  Ireland,  and  refuses  to  dis^or^; 
even  a  sn,ge  privilege,  although  for  the  relief  of  W 
swollen  and  distempered  body  politic."t 


f! 


HISTORICAL   INTRODTTCTION'. 


31 


fi 


The  mariTior  in  wliioli  the  Catholic  peasantry  were 
butchered  in  '98  to  pnt  down  the  rebellion,  and  the 
style  in  which  the  Protestant  "gentry"  were  bought 
and  Bold  in  1800,  to  eifect  the  Union,  were  equally  dis- 
graceful, and  proclaimed  as  loud  as  desperate  deeds 
could  proclaim  that  Ireland  was  not  the  patient  slave 
of  England,  and  that  there  was  not,  and  could  not  ex- 
ist a  mutually  beneficial  or  respected  union  between 
them.  After  quartering  lier  native  and  Hessian  mer- 
cenaries on  the  devoted  people  of  Ireland,  England 
quartered  with  much  parade  the  arms  of  Ireland  on 
■  the  British  Flag — this  too  while  the  wanton  agonies, 
inflicted  by  the  former,  were  fermenting  into  venge- 
ance, which  took  form  in  a  few  years  afterwards  in 
what  is  known  as  Emmet's  Eebellion,  and  which  was, 
although  nobly  inspired  and  well  conceived,  but  a 
faint  echo  of  the  great  fight  in  '98. 

In  Paris,  where  Eobert  Emmet  spent  the  early 
autamn  of  1802,  deep  in  military  studies,  he  met  his 

-^lioi-  Thomas  Addis,  r*nd  the. exiles  of  '98,  includ- 
le  of  the  students  who  had  been  expelled  with 
hii  Ai  the  University  of  Dublin,  for  national  rea- 
sons. Irish  affairs  naturally  engrossed  their  attention, 
especially  as  the  relations  between  France  and  England 
were  not  of  the  most  amicable  nature.  He  had  inter- 
views with  Buonaparte  and  Talleyrand,  from  which  he 
hopefully  speculated,  inasmuch  as  the  patched-up  peace 


I 


82  FEmAJ,   „™oKS  ABD   MABTVB8. 

B."U..thv    f "it,  ';  ';'  ""'  "'■'<"'  «•■•"'  '•"  *>'o  act„al 
J    I  icay  ot  either  of  tlioso  personaLW  but  fi.lt  tl    . 

and  that  Buonaparte  did  not.   The  oS  o    h       t^  ' 

was  to  aggrandize  France   and  to  d  T 

and  so  far  a.  ./,„,  obiee    ^l  to      'T^'  ^"'''"'^' 

effort  in  Ireland  that  lUt'       T'  ""^"  *«  ^"^ 

pose."    Tims  the  nnl  v  ''""^  *°  ^''  P"--- 

-esofp;::r"r~:r;r'"^^^^^^^ 

England,   nnder  favor  of   Z  ""'  """^ 

Amiens,  dated  March  BM  m^T''^  !'"'''  "' 

»ae,  indulged  in  b,  the  staC  7  'rr  '''"^ 
—the  virulent  flhn.«    ^  t>  ^  *^^  powers 

^'^Hiourn^Cairun^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

tHe  French  Minister  at  ^rnltS;:  ^o^' 
pnnces  and  the  French  emigrants  in  En° ,  ',  °"^''°° 
protestations  against  those ^'ool^s'Tv  '" 
-becoming  publications"   upon  The  F         T  "' 

-..convinced  the  hopeful  af^lXl^lt; 


il 


niSTORTCAT.    INTRODUCTION. 


88 


that  war  was  inevitable.  The  fire  of  '98  was  still 
snioul(leriii<r  on  many  a  bleak  and  disqnieted  hearth^ 
stone  in  Ireland.  There  were  sad  and  an<«;ry  wailings 
through  Irish  vales  and  glens—cries  from  the  unshriv- 
en  dead  and  the  unappeascd  living  to  heaven  or  earth, 
or  anywhere,  for  vengeance.  There  were  horrible 
memories  in  men's  minds—memories  all  the  more  des- 
perate that  they  were  pent  np— and  to  such  memories, 
and  for  the  men  who  held  them,  war— war  from  any 
quarter,  so  that  it  was  against  England,  was  as  giving 
speech  to  the  dumb  and  light  to  the  captive." 

The  design  on  Ireland  was  not  that  of  Eobert  Em- 
met solely.  All  the  Irish  exiles  in  Paris  and  Beltrium. 
with  the  exception  of  Arthur  O'Connor,  appear  to 
have  been  engaged  in  it,  or  cognizant  of  the  fact.  Of 
the  party  in  Paris,  Thomas  Enssell  had  the  most  influ- 
ence, if  we  are  to  judge  by  the  memoirs  of  O'Connor, 
to  whom  the  French  Government  communicated  the 
project.  The  conspiracy  was  well  laid  in  Ireland  also, 
men  of  prominence  and  distinction,  including  some 
noblemen,  giving  it  certain,  if  secret,  sanction.  In 
Emmet's  speech,  he  declares  he  was  the  instrument, 
the  willing  instrument,  however,  of  men  before  the 
splendor  of  whose  genius  and  virtues  he  bowed  with 
respectful  deference.  He  emphatically  and  more  than 
once  denied  that  his  purpose  was  to  transfer  Ireland 
from  the  hand  of  England  to  the  grasp  of  France. 


^ 


FKYIAN   TfEROl^S   ANB   MAHTTRfl. 


■  I 


I"  his  written  comininnVatlon  win,  Ti„ 

ten,.».      It  neve,   1  :       .r'"  ""  ""  ""^  «"«'" 

red  in  a  co-opomf.Vn  '^  ''"'^'^  ^'^^"^»r- 

berea.,,to:tr^;~--'-^->^^^^^^ 
fron,  Lis  conneetions  ent,  ■"■  "'^  "™'"""'-  ""d 

E»n,et  ^ee..erL:;:;:::;::i---'^.  ^->^n 

tHej>ette..„,J;S;;.:-;- 

euch  a  man  "  nn^  „  i     i     ,  ,  -^    ^'  ^^  esteem  of 

at  Fo«  Ge;.rj  :  :'',''^7'<I'"-"edhispH»on 

«'e^o.h,o:e:.::e° ;:  ;:j-'''''-en„f 

from  the  soMiety  at  Belfast.    M^e  t '       """^'^ 
the  head  of  a  brave  band  nf  „  ^'*''  ^"^  »' 

Nfeholas  Gray  BatnalK"  '""'''"  '"  ^'•*'''-- 
ford  in  '98  7m!  ''  -d-''--mp  in  Wex- 

f  am.  WeXrveTrCpie  ^1:?"^^ « 
been  the  secret  ao-pnf  .f  .1,   \  ^        ^''^^'  ^^«  ^^d 
occiet  agent  of  the  leaders  nf  'oq       j     , 

withH'Crackon  l^ri  fi     •  ^^'  ^"^  who, 

at  Antrim  tTi?       ""^'^'"'^  ^*  *^"  ^^"-*  %h 
national  I'r         """"^  ^^  ^"^  ^"^^^^^  to  L  • ' 


mSTOBIOAL  INTRODUCTION. 


M 


So  far  as  I  can  diHcovor,  all  the  funds  at  Emmet's 
disposal  aiiKUiiited  to  al)()ut  scventeoii  thouHaiid  dollars 
— ten  of  wlii(!h  comprised  all  his  own  fortune;  the 
other  seven  thousand  bein^  contributed  by  Philip 
Long* a  patriotic  and  wealthy  tradesman  of  Dublin, 
who  entered  fully  into  the  conspiracy. 

The  principles  held  by  Emmet  were  thoso  of  "Wolfe 
Tone.  Like  Tone,  too,  young  Emmet's  energy  was 
inexhaustibly  great.  No  man  who  reflects  on  his  ca- 
reer will  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  irrepressible  vigor 
with  which  he  carried  on  his  preparations;  now  plan- 
ning, now  BU])erintending  his  various  depots,  and  the 
manufacture  of  arms.  In  one  of  these  places  he 
slept  on  a  mattress  on  the  floor,  that  he  might  be 
always  present  to  oversee  what  was  going  forward,  to 
animate  his  workmen,  and  to  meet  any  emergency 
that  might  arise  to  demand  the  governing  power  of 
his  presence,  or  the  inspiration  of  his  example. 

The  accidental  blowing  up  of  a  powder  depot,  on 
the  16th  July,  1803,  drew  attention  to  the  conspiracy, 
and  precipitated  events  to  a  fruitless  end.  In  fact, 
with  that  explosion.  United  Irishism  was  blown  into 
fragments  for  more  than  two  generations.  The  dogs  of 
the  street  licked  the  blood  of  Emmet  from  the  pave 
ment  under  his  scaffold,  his  body  was  hidden  in  an  un- 
inscribed  grave,  and  upon  the  ruins  of  those  eflcu'ts  for 
a  distinct  idea  of  nationality,  arose,  and  in  greater 


vi 


l1' 


86 


I'MAN  HKKora  ATO  MAnrrns. 


proportion,  tl,o  fo,„,-„  ,f  ,  ^^^^. 

«ono'ca      ,'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

both      T]i«TT  v^-    .        '    ^^^^"^^^    eircimisc^ribed 

vast  and  subtle  knowu-lo-e  of  f]  T  ^  ''''^ 

W  ap,.ali„,  to  the  ...„  ^^  TZ^ 
and,  by  g:„„g  expression  to  tlie  passions  of  his  eoun 

from  hav,„g  been  so  Jong  elioked  in  silence. 

needed,  all  admit;  that  it  was  not  all  that  was  need 
ed  no  rational  beiuo-  wi'l  denv     «  i 

for  the  Eepeal  of  thllT  ^"'^^<^1"«"'  agitation 

-LKcpbcii  01  tlie  Union  r>rovpd  flmf  rv, 

^^  ■^'^''^'  Catliolics.     In  advocatino-  ReDe^l   n     • 
Bueem%  epitomi.es  vhat  was  aehie'ved Xl  ^ 
and  what  is  embraced  in  the  other : 


T- 


MISTOllICAL  INTRODUCTION". 


37 


denial,  gonius,  vast  and  sustained  labors,  and  lastly  by  the  sacrifice 
of  llic  forty- shilling  frodioldcrs — the  poor  veterans  of  the  war — 
and  by  submission  to  insulting  oatlis;  yet  it  was  cheaply  bought. 
Not  so  cheaply,  pert^hance,  as  if  Wv)n  by  the  sword ;  for,  on  it 
were  ex[)ended  more  tr(;asures,  more  griefs,  more  intellect,  more 
passion,  more  of  all  wliieh  makes  life  welcome,  tlian  had  been 
needed  for  war;  still  it  was  cheaply  bouglit,  and  Ireland  has 
glorified  herself,  and  will  throiigli  ages  triumph  in  the  victory 
of  '29. 

"  Yet  what  was  Emancipation  compared  to  Repeal  ? 

"  Tlie  one  pnt  a  sillicn  badge  on  a  few  members  of  one  pro- 
fession ;  the  otlier  would  give  to  all  professions  and  all  trades  the 
rank  and  riches  whicli  resident  proprietors,  domestic  legislation, 
and  flourishing  commerce,  infallil)ly  create. 

"Emancipation  made  it  possible  for  Catholics  to  sit  on  the 
judgment  seat;  but  it  left  a  foreign  administration,  which  has 
excluded  them,  save  in  two  or  three  cases,  wliere  over-topping 
eminence  made  the  acceptance  of  a  Judgeship  no  promotion  ;  and 
it  left  the  local  judges — those  with  whom  the  people  has  to  deal — • 
as  partial,  ignorant,  and  bigoted  as  ever ;  wliile  Repeal  would 
give  us  an  Irish  code  and  Irish-hearted  Judges  in  every  Court, 
from  the  Chancery  to  tlie  Petty  Sessions. 

"Emancipation  dignified  a  dozen  Catholics  with  a  senatorial 
name  in  a  foreign  and  hostile  Legislature.  Repeal  would  give  U8 
a  Senate,  a  Militia,  an  Administration,  all  our  own. 

•'The  Penal  Code,  as  it  existed  since  1798,  insulted  the  faith  of 
the  Catholics,  restrained  their  liberties,  and  violated  the  public 
Treaty  of  Linieriek.  Tlie  Union  lias  destroyed  our  nianutactures, 
proliil)it8  our  flag,  prevents  our  commerce,  drains  our  rental, 
crushes  our  genius,  makes  our  taxation  a  tribute,  our  representa- 
tion a  slialow,  our  name  a  bye-word.  It  were  nobler  to  strive  for 
Repeal  than  to  get  Emancipation." 


It  is  without  tlie  scope  of  tliesc  pages  to  follow  tlie 
wondrous  career  of  O'Conneli  through  the  Catliolic 
and  Eepeal  agitations ;  but  it  cannot  be  without  sug- 


!!'  i 


m  ft 


38 


MNIAK   HEEOE8  ANC  MAKTVES. 


ge.t,veuo.,s  to  those  wl,o  follow  tl>e  clmn<.es  in  popu- 
lar op,ni„„  to  observe  ti.e  persistent  a,,dpositivc  re- 
cnn-e„ce  of  the  Irish  to  those  ideas  which  were  in 
«.e  asce,^ant  before  O'Connell  became  prominent. 
O  Oonnell  s  career  was  in  a  great  degree  a  repetition 
of  Grattan's.     Both  brought  peculiarly  powerfnl  in- 
spirations into  politics,  and  the  powers  they  respec- 
tively onconraged,  if  not  evolved,  went  far  ahead  of 
the  des,gn   contemplated   by  either.     The  spirit  in- 
stalled  and  animated  by  Grattan  and  the  .oUmteers 
was  a  potent   element  in  the  formation  of   United 
Inslnsm,   and   its   struggle  in    '98;    and   the   talent 
wh.cli  rallied  round  the  latter  years  of  O'ConPcU's 
great  Repeal  agitation,  was  the  direct  agency  that  led 
to  the  attempted  revolution  in  '48.     Grattan  had  said 
Liberty  with  England,  if  possil>le,-if  not,  without 
her.    Perish  the  British  Empire-live  Ireland."    And 
0  Connell   h,.d   used   as   a   standing  text,  until  the 
words  became  houseliold,  indicating  a  future : 
"Ilcrctlitaiy  tondsmcn,  know  ye  not 
Who  would  be  free,  themselves  must  strike  the  Wow." 
Grattan,   however,    also    said,    "May  the    ldn<.ly 
power  that  forms  one  estate  in  our  constitution,  con- 
tmue  for  erer;"  and  O'Connell,  while  claimino-  "Ire- 
land for  the  Irish,"  also  said  "  God  Save  the  Q°,een  " 
The  progressive  patriots  thought  these  latter  ex- 
clamations  were  used  for  the  sake  of  policy    and 


HI8TOEI0AL    LNTKODUGTIOlT, 


se 


believed  the  leaders  meant  more  than  they  aetually 
did.  So  when  they  deemed  the  period  for  policy  had 
passed,  and  the  era  for  honesty  arrived,  the  progress- 
ive volunteers  became  United  Irishmen,  to  carry  out 
Grattan's  idea — "  Perish  the  British  Empire — live 
Ireland ;"  and  the  Young  Ireland  Kepealers  became 
Irish  Confederates  to  carry  out  O'Conncll's  declara- 
tion of  "Ireland  for  the  Irish."  Grattan  lived  to 
see  his  country  reduced  to  that  condition  in  which 
CConnell's  maturity  found  her,  and,  dying  in  Lon- 
don, his  ashes  enhance  the  memories  of  the  pantheon 
of  Ireland's  oppressors — he  was  buried  in  Westmin- 
ster Abbey.  O'Connell,  seeking  for  health  far  away 
from  those  scenes  it  had  ever  blest — far  from  his  be- 
loved Kerry  Mountains,  died  in  Genoa,  bequeathing 
his  heart  to  Rome,  and  the  case  that  had  held  it  to 
Ireland. 

The  Young  Ireland  party  differed  from  O'Connell 
because  he  would  not  allow  it  the  right  to  differ. 
The  inspiring  centre,  if  not  the  founder  of  this  party, 
was  Thomas  Davis,  who  died  before  O'Connell,  but 
lived  long  enough  to  feel  that  a  difference  if  not  a 
conflict  of  opinions,  between  his  associates  and  the 
old  chief  was  inevitable.  Davis  was  a  concentration 
of  nationality  and  of  everything  that  tended  to  nur- 
ture or  spread  it,  whether  in  the  paths  of  letters,  art, 
manufacture,  or  politics.     Everything  Irish  had  a  sig- 


c  - .  i  Jdt!' -  ik"jt{pe,-CT* 


«      j 


a  I* 


W  I'liNIAN   ilElioES   ANI>   MAKTYUa 

n^..,u,co  t„  l,i„,  of  ,„,,i„„  „;  j,,„,,^,,,,     ^^  g^^^.^j^ 
O  l.m.„  .u,l,  "L„ve  of  country  ,v.h  tl.e  passion  of 
Jh«  l.te-H,o  motive  for  evcy  actio„-tl,o  foundation 
of  every  feeling."     Witi.  clnu-aeteristie  force,  as  in- 
dieating  his   creative  power  of  patriotisn,,  I,„hcny 
.aul,  Dav,s  "Struck  living  fire  from  inert  way-side 
stones      To  hi„.  the  n.eanest  rill,  the  rugged  n.oun- 
tmns,  the  barren  waste,  the  rudest  fragn,ent  of  bar- 
baric hmtory,  spoke  the  lauguage  of  elevation,  luu- 
>nony  and  hope."    Meagher's  first  speech  was  a  nweet 
tnbnte   ,n   honor  erf  the   dead,   au,l  upon  the  fresh 
grave  ot  his  friend,  John  Mitchel  lai,l  as  a  dclica- 
tory  offering  the  fl,^t  fruits  of  his   labors  in    Irish 
Jiteratnre— the  lite  of  A.xlh  O'Xeill. 

After  renu.ustrating  i„  vain  uith  ihe  O'Connollites 
feloung  Jrclau<l  party  received  great  accessions  of 
Btrengtl,  and  on  the  13th  January,  1847,  torn.ed  the 
Insh  Conicderation."     This  organisation  was  a  bril- 
ln.nt  representative  of  Irish  lu,nor  and  iutellectaal 
attannnent.     The  genius  and  euthfsiasm  of  the  conn- 
try  ran, ed  round  it.     The  great  .fourual,  TAe  JFation, 
-Inch  had  fostered  all  the  national  resources,  i„  what- 
ever  torn,  they  presented  themselves,  had  a  legitin.ate 
oftspnng    at   nuUnrity  in    the    Confederation.     r/« 
iK*.«   had   attracted   the  appL-.se  of  Europe   and 
Anienca  as  the  spirit   of  progressive   Ireland :    the 
Coiifederuhon  disclosed  the   active   body    behind   it 


nWTORIOAL   INTEODtTCTIOir.  ^ 

In   intolIect„al   endowments  the  "Yonng  Ireland" 
party  w,ll  compare  fav-o.-aMy  with  the  men  of  '98 
-th  one  exeeption.     That   exeeption  is   Tone.     As 
a  poht,eal  w.,,.,-  he  was  alone  in  his  day.     He  ha 
no    heeu  equalled  since.    He  was  not  only  a  pat   o 
hut  a  statesman  and  diplomat;  a  eomhination L   y 
to  bo  fonnd.     He  was  not  only  almost  inexhaustibly 
Bu,.gcst,ve,  but  he  was  also  practieal.      He  diffeS 
^•om  mo.,t  men  who  ha™  one  grand  idea,  in  the 
fact  that  he  never  p„t  the  attainment  of  his  object 
>n  jeopardy  by  publicly  ignoring  the  sense  of  those 
who  had  other   ideas   or  diifered  from  his.     While 
he  was  firm  he  was  also  considerate.     To  this  faculty 
may  be  attriln,ted  the  power  he  had  with  men.     His 
pamp.dets  are  ehar.acterized  by  fervor  and  argument 
never  by  abuse.     Thomas  Davis,  however,  had  one' 
great   advantage  over   Tone  in   seizing  the  popular 
heart    and  throbbing  it  with  healthy 'and  indjan^ 
pulsa  ,ons,   l,e   was   a   poet.      His   prose  essays  are 
bm,dan  ly  dlustrative  of  noble  aspirations  and  ready 
g.fts,  but  h,s  poen>s  are  passionatey  national,  and 
couta,n  that  fire  ■  .laeh  cannot  be  extinguished 

It  the  n>embera  of  the  Irish  Confederation,  taken 
as  a  party,  were  not  only  equal  to,  but  beyond  the 
Umted  Lushmen,  as  poets,  orators,  and  publicists, 
they  were  tar  behmd  them  as  revolutionists.  It  m.y 
be  that  fi.om  the  formation  of  the  Confederation 


42 


FENIAN   nEROES   AND  MAETYR8. 


i  i 


i 


time  was  not  permitted  to  develop  the  revolutionary 
ability  of  the  body  until  it  was  extinct ;  and  it  is 
true  that  foreign  example,  especially  the  French 
Revolution,  and  the  writings  of  John  Mitchel,  forced 
the  leaders,  and,  through  them,  the  people  into  a  posi- 
tion not  contemplated  as  so  closely  ^''nrainent.  The 
Confederation  was  not  a  secret  or  co  md  organi- 
zation as  the  United  Irish  Society  was.  It  liiight 
have  become  so  had  it  lived  longer.  The  United  Irish 
Society  was  twice  as  long  in  existence  before  it  took 
refuge  in  secrecy  from  the  persecution  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  reorganized  on  a  military  basis.  Origi- 
nally started  to  effect  Catholic  Emancipation  and 
Parliamentary  Reform,  it  was  persecuted  into  the 
wider  field  of  Republicanism.  The  Confederation 
was  designed  to  educate  and  organize  the  people — to 
achieve  Repeal  by  moral  force,  if  possible ;  by  physi- 
cal force,  if  necessary. 

The  famine  years  had  been  regarded  by  English 
ministers  as  powerful  allies  for  the  reduction  of  the 
Irish.  Measures  of  relief  were  suggest  cd  in  and  out 
of  Parliament,  resolutions  carried,  committees  ap- 
pointed, discussions  held  as  to  what  caused  the  fam- 
ine ?  how  far  the  potato  blight  had  gone  ?  how  could 
it  be  stayed?  Science  grew  blind  experimenting; 
and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  which  maddened 
the  Irish  only  made  the  ministers  deaf.     Although 


HISTORICAL   INTRODUOTIOK.  43 

there  was  not  a  county  in  Ireland  which  had  CRcaped 
the  potato-rot,  and  the  consequent  scarcity  of  food 
and  funds,  yet  the  hxndlords  were  as  unre'lonting  as 
ever  in  driving  and  grinding  the  impoverished  pea- 
santry.    Meanwhile,  the  island  was  rifled  of  its  grain 
and  cattle   to  meet   the  exigencies  of  the  absentees 
and  the  English  interest  in  Ireland ;  and  the  Govern- 
ni^nt,  to  make  a  show  of  charity  and  protection  to 
the  world,  bonght  up  some  foreign  corn  for  the  «  poor 
Irish."    It  might  have  bouglit  the  food  in  the  coun- 
try, and  distributed  it;  but  that  would  have  been  the 
means  of  circulating  money  and  staving  off  famine  • 
and  neither  of  these  appliances  were  calculated  to  sus- 
tam  an  English  interest  in  Ireland.     No !  every  ves- 
sel  seeking  the  doomed  island  with  foreii^n  corn  "was 
sure  to  meet  half  a  dozen  sailing  out  with  Irish  wheat 
and  cattle."     There  was  no  end  to  the  meetings  of 
learned  bodies,  and  the  reports  they  made.     Every 
thmg  was  done  but  the  one  thing  necessary-feed  the 
people. 

Where  famine  and  fever  did  not  put  the  peasantry 
beyond  the  power  of  injuring  the  English  interest, 
"  agrarian  outrages,"  as  the  desire  for  food  was  called, 
brought  them  within  the  clutches  of  the  law  Th  • 
process  was  complete,  and  none  will  say  it  was  not 
powerful.  First,  the  people  were  systematically 
starved  ;  and  for  those  who  escaped  death,  the  minis- 


44 


PENT  AN   HEROES   AND   MARTTR8. 


tcrs  supplied  a  trap  in  tlio  sliapo  of  the  Coercion 
(AirrariiUi  Outriigcs)  Bill,  to  restrain  the  daring 
•\vlucli  jjjave  tlieni  a  desire  to  live.  "Old  Ireland" 
liad  gone  witli  the  Whiga,  and  the  AVhiga  had  gone 
against  Ireland,  as  nsnal,  notwithstanding  the  pro- 
mises of  beneiicial  measures,  by  which  Lord  John 
Russell  hud  duped  the  Old  Ecpeal  Association. 
"Agrarian  outrage"  was  the  plea  made  to  excuso 
"Whig  concessions  on  the  one  liand;  and  on  the  other, 
to  declare  in  Parliament  that  it  were  better  to  "out- 
rage the  Constitution,"  than  allow  the  present  state 
of  affairs  to  continue  in  Ireland. 

In  the  face  of  these  actions,  the  Irish  Confederation 
had  work  enough  on  hand,  were  it  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion. But  it  was  not".  Although  it  had,  on  the  state- 
ment of  its  secretary,  npwards  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  enrolled  men  in  the  clubs,*  yet  the 
Confederate  organization  was  far  from  perfect,  and 
the  amount  of  arms  possessed  by  it  insignificant. 
Inspired,  as  it  was,  by  a  noble  sense  of  nationality, 
still  the  distinct  purposes  of  the  Confederacy  were  not 
widely  defined  or  understood.  The  opinion  of  the 
body  of  its  members  was  in  a  transition  state,  between 
the  old  principles  they  had  left,  and  the  new  ones 
which  were  not  fully  adopted.    This  led  to  differences 

*  This  statement  of  mo.mhors  I  find  in  a  pamphlet  cntitlccl,"A  Disclosure  con- 
nccteil  with  the  Late  State  Prosecutions  in  Ireland,  &c.,  by  Thomas  Matthew 
Halpin,  Secretary  of  tlie  Irish  Confederation,  Dublin,  1849. 


HI8TORI0AI.    a^TRODXICTION. 


46 


amoniv  some  of  the  leaders,  and  suggested  the  necessi- 
ty of  a  definite  prograiiime  of  guidiince  in  the  Con- 
fedemtion.  Mitcliel,  not  seeing  anytliing  in  the  fam- 
ine policy  of  tlie  Government  bnt  "a  macliinery 
deliberately  devised  and  skilfully  worked  f(;r  the  en- 
tiro  subjugation  of  the  island, — the  slaughter  of  a 
portion  of  its  people,  and  the  pauperization  of  the 
rest,"  believed  that  resistance  should  be  opposed  to  the 
system  at  every  point:  that  the  transport  and  sliip- 
ment  of  provisiims  should  be  obstructed  and  rendered 
impossible:  and  that  the  people  should  be  advised  no^ 
to  give  up  their  arms,  under  the  law  made  to  disarm 
them,  bnt  to  provide  more,  especially  pikes,  of  which 
the  soldiery  were  in  great  horror.  O'Brien,  Duffy, 
and  the  Nation^  party  remonstrated  against  this 
course,  as  it  would  be  a  virtual  declaration  of  war. 
On  the  two  days  debate  which  followed  in  the  Confed- 
eration, Meagher  gave  the  weight  of  his  popularity, 
and  turned  the  scale  against  Mitchel's  views ;  and 
Mitchel  having  already  retired  from  the  Nation  set 
up  the  United  Irishman,  to  promulgate  the  doctrines 
he  thought  best  suited  to  the  crisis.  Throughout 
these  movements  Devin  Reilly  was  the  able  lieuten- 
ant of  Mitchel. 

The  French  Revolution  of  February,  1848,  created 
great  excitement  in  Ireland,  giving  a  new  impetus 
to  the  Confederation,  and   apparently  ratifying  the 


\m'< 


46 


PENIAN    HEROF^   AND   MARTYRS. 


Im-,    '^ 


\l 


I 

11!   \ 

it:     i^ 


republican  indications  of  Mitchcl.     Tho  Confederate 
orators  now  rivalled  the  revolutionary  vigor  of  tho 
United  Irishman.     In  the  first  week  in  February  tho 
assembled   Confederates   voted   down   Mitchel's   war 
pron^raniine  :  a  month  afterwards,  Meagher,  tho  voice 
of  the  Confederation,  declared  that  if  the   Govern- 
ment did  not  accede  to  the  demand  for  the  recon- 
struction of  Irish  Nationality,  he  was  ready  to    cry 
"  up  with  the  barricades,  and  invoke  the  god  of  bat- 
tles."     The  Confederation   also   sent   an  address  to 
France,  which  declared  that  her  heroism  "taught  en- 
slaved nations  that  emancipation  ever  awaits  those  who 
dared  to  achieve  it  by  their  own  intrepidity."     These 
significant  expressions  were  seized  with   avidity  by 
the  people,  as  indicating  a  desire  to  fight.     If  the 
Whig  Ministers   affected    to   treat   the   Irish   move- 
ment with  contempt,  the  Tory  leaders  forced  them 
out   of  that  position.     The  Earl   of  Derby,   in   the 
House  of  Lords,  called  the  Government  to  task,  and 
said  of  the  Irish  leaders,  "These  men  are  honest; 
they  are  not  the  kind  of  men  who  make  their  patriot- 
ism the  means  of  barter  for  place  or  pension."     The 
Whigs,  disgusted  at  the  Tories  calling  the  Confed-  * 
erates  honest   and  high-toned,  determined  to  render 
their  cause  as  degrading  as  English  law  could  make 
it.     The  Treason-Felony  Act  was   therefore  passed. 
What  was  heretofore  known  as  treason  to  the  Crown, 


niSTORTCAL   INTROnunTIOR". 


47 


wliieh  in  Trclund  was  rogiirdod  as  patriotifim,  was  by 
thiti  Act  made  a  felony  and  tlio  patriots  "felons." 

Tho  arrest  of  John  Mitcliel  quickly  followed,  and 
the  national  excitability  seemed  to  culminate  in  tho 
idea  that  now  was  tho  time  for  a  general  uprising. 
Tiio  Council  of  the  Confederation,  after  the  most 
strenuous  exertions,  prevented  an  outbreak,  and  ex- 
cused its  action  in  an  Address  to  the  People.  Tho 
Council  feared  that  an  attempt  to  rescue  Mitchel, 
and  to  free  Ireland,  would  prove  abortive.  "We, 
therefore,"  said  the  Address,  "  interposed,  and  with 
difficulty  succeeded  in  preventing  the  fruitless  effusion 
of  blood."  Mitchel  was  permitted  to  be  banished ;  and 
the  Government,  seeing  the  Confederates  waver  at  tho 
very  crisis  of  the  excitement,  pushed  matters  with  its 
usual  recklessness  and  vigor.  The  Irish  Trihwrie 
sprang  into  the  gap  made  by  the  demolition  of  the 
United  Irishman,  and,  two  weeks  aftt^r,  the  Irish 
Felon  was  by  the  si<le  of  the  former  laboring  for  the 
same  ends.  "The  harvest,"  was  now  the  cry  of  the 
patriots.  ^  Wait  for  the  harvest,  and  we  will,  in  God's 
name,  strike  a  blow."  The  Government,  however, 
would  not  wait  so  long.  All  its  power  was  put  fort'i 
to  lorce  a  rising,  that  it  might  crush  it.  The  Trihune^ 
Felon,  and  Nation  were  seized,  and  the  editors  and 
proprietors  thrown  into  prison.  The  Gagging  Act 
prevented  the  leaders  from  addressing  the  Clubs  in 


48 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYU9. 


11! 


I 


I    I 


the  cities ;  and  tlio  siiapciiaion  of  the  Ilaheas  Qyrpua 
Act  compoUcd   thorto  who  liad   rciuU'rcd  tlu'insolvos 
objoctrt  of  siirtpicMon,  to  evade  tlie  mitlioritioa.     Tliim 
tliese'  men  were  thrown  on  the  country,  wlien  tlicy 
liud  lu'Ipcd  to  chill  its  spirit,  or  make  it  irresohite  by 
,    hope  deferred.    The  leaders  liad  to  "tal>(   to  tlio  hills." 
Kewards  were  olFered  for  the  more  prominent,  and 
the  natural  gallantry  and  truth  of  the  Irish  peasant 
created  a  sympathy  vhere  even  a  knowle(l<^e  of  the 
political   situation    had  been  but   im[)erfectly  under- 
stood,    irunted  Willi  celerity  they  strove  to  face  the 
emer<!^en('y  in  liurried  councils,  and  with  undisciplined 
material,  and  having  come  in  contact  with  the  Jh-itish 
forces  at  the  Slate  Quarries,  MulHnahone,  Killenaule, 
Ballingarry,  Abbeyfeale,  and  other  places,  they  were 
either  captured  or  found  safety  in  escape  and  exile. 
Of  the  chief  men,  O'Brien  and  Meagher  were  captur- 
ed, tried,  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  death,  which 
was  subsequently  commuted  to  banishment  for  life; 
and  Doheny,  Dillon,  Devin   Reilly,  O'Gorman  and 
others,  after  varions  adventures,  escaped,  and   found 
their  way  to  America.     Later  in  the  year,  in  Septem- 
ber,  a  more  persistent  eftbrt  was  made  by  Messrs. 
O'Mahony  and  Savage  to  rally  the  people  in  Ti2)per. 
ary,  Waterford  and  Kilkenny,  and  to  retrieve  some- 
what the  disasters  that  had  preceded.     After  demon- 
strations on  the  mountains  of  these  localities,   and 


niflTORlOAL   rNTIlODUCTlON. 


49 


roiinicts   nt  l*(»rt]ii\v  Liimicks,   (Jlciibower,  ISt'juiirh. 
Hiul  (ttluT  pluccH,  tlio  moveniont  wns  given  u\)  ns  liopo- 

Look  Inn.  hnclc  cnlinly  nt  the  cvontB  of  '48,  and  com- 
l»roliondin^r  dotuils  wliieh  only  tinio  can  prenent  in 
their  true  li^rht,  tlioro  can  bo  no  rational  doubt  of  tlio 
fact  that  the  ])eopk;  wore  not  ])reparod  to  attempt  or 
effect  a  revolution  hy  arnm  that  year.     There  was  no 
or«ranizatior)  ;  the  Confederation  was  not  RnflicieriMy 
lon<r  in  existence  to  have  put  the  country  on  a  ii^lit- 
ing  busis  ;  and  without  or^^anization  nothing  could  bo 
cfl'ectcd.     The  Fren(Oi  Kevolution  came  too  soon  for 
the  good  of  Ireland.     There  were  moments  when  a 
shot  would  have  set  the  revolution  going  with  an 
esjmt  and  a  fervor,  the  result  of  which  cannot   bo 
imagined. 

The  10th  July  was  such   an  occasion,  when    the 
populace  of  Waterford  and  Cashcl  raised  ban-icadca 
to  prevent  the  arrest  of  Meagher  and  Dohcny.     It 
needed  Meagher's  most  impassioned  exertions  to  fi'ce 
In'mself  from  his  friends,  that  he  might  be  arrested  by 
his  enemies.     Doheny  was  taken  out  of  jail  by  the 
Cashcl  men,  recaptured  himself,  and  only  was  pcr- 
Jnitted  to  do  so  by  pledging  his  word  that  he  was  ar- 
rested on  a  bailable  offence.     Both,  unknown  to  each 
other,  feared  to  precipitate  a  revolt,  because  the  lead- 
ers had  no  settled  plan  of  action.     The  chief  occasion 
8 


i  If 


1  I 


50 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND   MAJiTYRS. 


of  the  ^ear,  however,  was  the  trial  of  Mitchel.  The 
leaders  were  all  at  liberty,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
people  intense  and  manageable.  The  Government 
had  shown  its  vindictive  intentions,  which  created  as 
daring  a  desire  of  defiance,  and  the  halo  encircling  the 
first  martyr  inspired  the  masses  of  the  Dublin  clubs 
with  a  frenzy  which  declined  after  the  disappoint- 
ments of  that  day. 


IK' 

r 


I   I 


! 


.j.t''.i 


iMiiMsllMMitmmm 


the 
lent 
i  as 
the 
[ubs 
>int- 


PISTOmCAL    INTEODyguON. 


51 


CHAPTER  IL 

Of  the  P.  B.  cha„gecl-Difference«  bLeen  the  •'  Se  "idenr"^^^^^^^ 
result  in  an  "Irish  Party"  and  a  "  Canadian  Partv"-Fonr  h  r  "'" 

the  Old  constitution,  endorsed  .,  MS^Zr.^Z!^:Z::^ 
land  increases-Arrest  and  Escape  of  Stephens-Lord  ^\Slehour  o„  Z 
Conspiracy-The  Country  not  safe  unless  the  Hnh^nin  '"^""v'""^^  o°  ^he 
Debate  on  that  Measure-John  Bri'^  Stua  f  MHl  Th?T''^r.r '  ^f^^'^^'^- 
B.  Dillon-The  O'Donoghue-Passie  ofThe  Sl!~  ^'"'"'-''''° 

By  the  events  of  '48  "Young  Ireland"  was  dis- 
banded  but  not  defeated.     The  new  soul  which  came 
into  Ireland  and  was  manifested  in  the  songs,  essays 
speeches  and  publications  generally  of  the^members 
of  that  party,  could  not  be  extinguished.     If  they  did 
not  organize,  they  dzd  wonderfully  help  to  educate  the 
people  with  a  healthy,  manly  and  hopeful  literature. 
Their  efforts  in  this  regard  have  produced  legitimate 
results;  and  in  the  spread  of  their  ideas,  hopes,  affec- 
tions  and  romantic  feelings  touching  the  uses  of  everv 


;r 


52  FENIAN  HEROES  ANt3  MA^TYBS. 

phase  of  Irish  life  to  the  cud  of  Irish  f*  pre- 
pared  the  people  to  appreciate  o'-g""'-*'-'/'^ ^ 
powerful  at  all  times,  is  all  the  grander  and  mo  e 
Edible  when  founded  on  and  sustained  by  mtelU- 

^Tllsophieally  judged,  Tonng  Ireland  nclne.ed  a 
notable  andfruitful  victory.     On  the  onehand  «- 
pelled  England  to  show  the  rntttan  hand  by  wluch 
the  "  siste;  island"  was  governed.     This  was  no  lost 
on  the  world;   the  French  Government  adroitly  al- 
luded to  it  in  18C0,  when  Persigny  was  "  enlargmg 
he  liberty"  of  the  French  Press.    On  the  other  hand 
it  hestowed  a  new  literature  on  the  couutry,_  wlueh 
commanded  even  the  admiration  of  its  enen.es,  and 
is  the  touchstone  of  all  literary  endeavor  ,n  Ireland 
since    Irishmen  who  could  not  embrace  the  poUt.es  of 
Youn<r  Ireland,  welcomed  the  literature  which  seemed 
to  combine  the  best  characteristics  of  all  that  had 
gone  before,  with  an  informing  spirit  emanatmg  from 
•Dure  hearts  and  able  heads. 

Even  in  the  disruption  of  the  party,  its  scattered 
elements  were  destined  to  do  wondrous  service  nx  tes- 
timouY  of  the  national  faith  and  character  of  InsU- 
men  and  of  continued  tribulation  to  the  Government 
of  Ireland.  Those  who  were  kept  in  jail  nuder  the 
suspension  of  the  irah<m  Corpm  act,  like  Fenton  La. 
lor  and  Joseph  Brenan,  were  no  sooner  released  than 


HISTORICAL  IKTEODtTCTIOJr.  53 

they  were  planning  and  projecting,  with  oti.er  nntiring 
spirits,  a  renewal  of  armed  liostililies  in  1849  » 
The  exiles  who  were  in  France  took  advantage  of 
,  the  disrupted  state  of  that  country,  to  study  successful 
means  of  revolution,  and  to  interest  many  able  French- 
men in  the  Irish  eause-no  very  difficult  matter  to  he 
suio  as  m  addition  to  the  sympathy  between  the  Irish 
and  French,  descending  from  old  military  alliances,  any- 
thing against  England  is  attractive  to  a  true  French- 
man   The  exiles  in  America,  in  the  press,  the  lecture- 
nail,  the  drill-room,  possessed  welcome  vehicles  for  the 
expression  and  expansion  of  the  doctrines  which  had 
driven  them  from  home;  and  even  in  the  penal  colo- 
nies, to  which  England  had  banished  those  who  had 
fallen  into  the  embrace  of  partisan  judges  and  packed 
juries,  the  gallant  settlei-s  received  as  friends  those  who 
were  branded  as  felons,  and  intrigued  and  conspired 
to  set  them  free. 

It  would  be  impossible,  even  were  all  the  materials 
8t  hand,  to  present  at  this  date  anything  like  a  fair 
record  of  the  unceasing,  though  sometimes  contracted 
efforts  made  in  Ireland  and  America  to  keep  alive  one 
organization  after  the  other  for  the  encoura<.cment 
and  indoctrination  of  Irish  national  principles"  The 
history  of  these  efforts,  when  written,  will  prove  of 
deep  mterest,  and  give  evidence  of  the  undying  devo- 

•  S=.  a=  f.o.,  given  to  Mr.  L.b,..  .tetcl  o(  PUUIp  G»y,  to  , to  volume 


n 


54  FENTAK   HEROES   AND   MARTYR. 

tion  of  all  classes  of  Irislunen  to  tlie  freedom  of  their 
native  land. 

Distracted,  now  by  differences  of  al»'  men,  now  by 
the  jealousies  of  weak  ones;  at  other  times  by  the 
well-meant  olHciousness  of  ignorance ;  again  by  the 
want  of  means,  and  the  bickering  results  of  such  a 
condition ;  sometimes  falling  into  apathy  by  the  drop- 
ping out  of  some  earnest  spirit,  whose  sensitiveness 
would  pall  before  an  accumulation  of  the  visitations 
described,  it  is  remarkable  that  some  one  was  always 
found  to  cheer,  to  encourage,  and  give  life  and  vigor 
to  a  nucleus  of  nationalists.  The  connection  was  thus 
kept  up,  sometimes  by  a  happily-welded  link,  at  others 
by  a  very  fragile  rope  indeed.  I  have  chiefly  referred 
to  the  projective  societies  in  New  York,  with  wliicli 
the  congenial  societies  in  Ireland  were  in  commu- 
nication. 

One  great  source  of  dissatisfaction  arose  from  the 
very  hopefulness  wliicli  kept  the  cause  alive  in  Ire- 
land, and  which  led  men  there  to  exaggerate  the 
means  at  their  disposal.  The  mistaken  idea,  also 
prevailing  in  Ireland,  of  the  position  of  the  exiles  in 
America,  who,  it  was  thought,  could  control  any 
amount  of  money  and  war  material,  caused  the  de- 
mands made  on  them  to  be  of  an  equally-extensive 
character.  It  is  needless  to  say,  these  demands  could 
not  be  complied  with.    The  existence  of  those  societies 


I 


HISTORICAL  INTEODUCnON. 


£5 


was   always   precarious,  sometimes   exciting,  but  all 
were  guided  by  worthy  aspirations. 

The  Fenian  organization  was  the  result  of  the  socie- 
ties wliich  had  preceded  it.  The  most  imposing  of 
them  had  fallen  away,  and  the  nucleus  from  which 
sprung  this  formidable  power  was  composed  of  Michael 
Doheny,  Michael  Corcoran,  John  O'Mahony,  and  one 
or  two  others.  From  small  numerical  dimensions  it 
slowly  but  steadily  expanded  to  the  form  in  which  it 
has  arrested  the  attention  of  the  world. 

When  O'Maliony  was  elected  president  of  the  society, 
and  at  the  same  time  received  his  commission  as  Head 
Centre  from  elsewhere,  toward  the  end  of  1858,  it 
numbered  forty  members,  all  of  whom  resided  in  the 
city  of  New  York.     It  had  a  great  struggle  for  exist- 
ence, but  ultimately  succeeded  beyond  the  most  san- 
guine hopes  of  its  projectors.     In  five  years  it  put 
forth  its  branches  fjom  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 
Stretching  northward,  it  had  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  great  lakes,  spreading  widely  over  the  British 
provinces.    Toward  the  south  it  had  reached  the  mouth 
of  the  Mississijipi,  before  the  great  rebellion  cut  off 
communication  with  the    southern    circles.      Up  to 
1803,  the  Fenian  Erotherhood  was  little  understood 
outside  of  the  circles  composing  it.    Its  representatives 
had  never  been  summoned  together. to  adopt  such  a 
constitution  and  rules  for  general  government,  as  an 


66 


FENIAN    HETIOES    AND   MARTTRS. 


association  '>f  its  extent  might  have  warranted.  It 
had  more  the  nature  of  a  military  organization  than 
a  civil  and  self-governing  body ;  and  while  this  suited 
its  infancy,  many  disadvantages  became  apparent 
when  it  had  grown  in  numbers,  intelligence  and  power. 
These  disadvantages  suggested  to  the  Head  Centre, 
that  the  organization  should  be  reconstituted  on  the 
model  of  the  institutions  of  the  Republic,  governing 
itself  on  the  elective  principle.  It  was  then  decided 
to  call  a  National  Congress. 

Other  mattei*s  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  Bro- 
therhood demanded  the  consideration  of  its  assembled 
wisdom.  Thousands  of  the  most  ardent  and  best 
working  members  had  rushed  to  the  defense  of  the 
Union.  Many  whole  circles  had  entered  the  army  in 
a  body,  like  the  flourishing  one  at  Milford,  Mass., 
under  its  gallant  centre.  Col.  Robert  Peard.  No  less 
than  fifty  branches  had  become  extinct  or  dormant, 
and  the  rest  had  lost  considerably  in  ardor  and  effi- 
ciency, through  the  absence  of  their  choicest  spirits  in 
the  field.  In  the  West,  the  Brotherhood  had  sustained 
an  almost  iiTeparable  loss  in  the  death  of  the  Rev. 
Edward  OTlaherty,  the  devoted  pastor  of  Crawfords- 
ville.  Ilis  death  seemed  to  paralyze  Indiana,  which, 
during  his  life,  was  thu  ''  banner  state'^  of  Fenianism  I 
The  revolutionary  Brotherhood  in  Ireland  demanded 
aid  and  sympathy ;  so  the  call  for  the  first  National 
Conin'ess  was  issued. 


yi 


'  "-r 


I 


HISTORICAL   INTKODtTCTlOlT.  57 

This  body  assembled  at   Chicago,  in  the  Fenian 
Hall  of  that  city,  on  the  3d  November,  1863.     Sixty- 
three  circles  were  represented,  having  a  constituency 
of  fifteen  thousand  men,  half  of  whom  at  least  were 
mthe  armies  of  the  Union.      "We  no   longer  need 
generals  of  our  own  blood,"  said  Mr.   O'Mahony 
.   m   the  opening  session,  « to   lead  us  to  battle  for 
Ireland,  nor  veteran  soldiers  to  follow  them  »     The 
Congress  met  to  place  the  Organization  on  a  basis 
m  accordance  with   the  habits   and  customs  of  tho 
United  States,  and  to  declare   its   position   and   ob- 
jects  before   the   world,   so   that   all   the   friends' of 
Irish  freedom  could  understand  them.     It  adopted  a 
series  of  resolutions  and  formed  a  Constitution  and 
Jiy^Laws  which  promulgated  the  faith  of  Fenianism. 
The  organization  was  declared  to  be— 

States  of  Amorica,  of  Irish  birth  or  descent    but  nL     . 

tution  and  lows  un.ler  which  we  lire,  ami  to  whiol,  „1  T„°T 
aio  citizens  of  the  United  State.,  ow;  om-  Ine!,::!""  "'  "'  "'"' 

An  imqnestionable  right  was  claimed  under  the 
Constitufonof  the  United  States  to  aid  with  money 
or  moral  or  political  influence  any  struggling  nation! 
3* 


6d 


PENIAN  HEROES  AOT)  MARTYE9. 


I  .'■•• 


Deeming  the  preservation  and  success  of  the  Union 
of  supreme  importance  to  the  extension  of  democratic 
institutions,  and  to  the  well  being  and  social  elevation 
of  the  whole  human  race ;  it  was 

**Iiesolvcd,  That  we,  the  Representatives  of  the  Fenian  Brotlier- 
hood  in  the  United  States,  do  hereby  solemnly  declare,  without 
limit  or  reservation,  our  entire  allegiance,  to  the  Constitution  and 
Laws  of  the  United  States  of  America." 

All  subjects  pertaining  to  partizan  American  poli- 
tics and  religion  were  ignored. 

The  hostile  assertions  that  the  Brotherhood  was  "  a 
*  Secret  Society,'  bound  together  by  an  oath,  and,  as 
such,  distinctly  condemned  by  the  Catholic  Church, 
through  certain  rescripts  thereof,  leveled  against  the 
Freemasons,  Carbonari,  Odd  Fellows  and  other  sim- 
ilar associations,  social  or  political ;"  were  repudiat- 
ed and  denied  by  resolution — 

"That  we,  the  members  of  this  Convention,  most  distinctly  de- 
clare and  make  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  but  without 
the  slightest  disrespect  to  any  of  the  societies  above-named,  that 
the  Fenian  Brotherhood  is  not  a  Secret  Society,  inasmuch  as  no 
pledge  of  secresy,  expressed  or  implied,  is  demanded  from  the 
candidates  for  membership  thereof;  neither  is  it  an  oath-bound 
Society,  for  no  oath  whatever  is  required  in  order  to  entitle  a  man 
to  all  the  privileges  of  the  association." 

The  following  embraces  the  objects  sought,  and  the 
means  by  which  it  may  be  accomplished  : 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  special  duty  of  the  members  of  the 
Fenian  Brotherhood  to  strive  with  all  their  might,  and  with  their 


BisTOEioAL  nrrnontrcnoiT. 


69 

St,'!?!,'''  T"  '""  ""'''  ™™S"  Wshmon  evcywhe™ 

life,  dl,.eo.1o„C"  l:rc„'.T„  I  7,""'  ','T  «-™  »>-?'"»■<' 
hatred  of  her  opnrossZ  S,  ?,  of  Ireland,  and  ttat 

e.ery  ,me  HsrCu"^  ™  *°  Predominant  passions  of 

The  well-trained  Irish-American  soldiers  were  be- 
sought  to  rally  round  the  Organization,  and  the  men 
in  Ireland  exhorted  to  stand  by  it  to  the  last  extremi- 
ty, nor  flee  from  it  to  foreign  countries.  The  Irish 
people  were  declared  to  constitute  one  of  the  distinct 
nattonahfes  of  the  earth.  The  Irish  Republic  was 
acknowledged  as  virtually  established,  with  James 
Stephens  as  tts  Chief  Executive:  sympathy  with  the 
Pojes  was  expressed  and  a  resolution  passed  express- 

.u.e,.n,  P,„ancrC'i,r::  "Zr  :;'*  t^  ^^  "' 

asains.  n.i,.,  to  t.  z;::^^:^.:^;^::^;^;:^ 

The  direction  of  the  Organization  was  vested  in  a 
Head  Centre,  elected  annually  by  a  General  Congress, 
State  Centres,  to  direct  State  Organizations,  Centres 


60 


PENT  AN   nEROES   AND   AfARTYRS. 


.■,|i 


1    '  * 


r^ 


to  direct  CirJes,  and  sub-Contres,  for  siib-OIrclea. 
The  Head  Centre  to  be  assisted  by  a  Central  Council 
of  five,  a  Central  Treasurer,  Assistant  Treasurer, 
nominated  by  him  and  ele:!ted  by  Congress,  and  Corre- 
sponding and  Recording  Sfc^retaries. 

"In  order,"  said  Mr.  O'Mnhony,  "that  the  Fenian  Brother- 
hood be  in  reality  what  your  legislation  has  made  it  this  day — a 
thorouglily  democratic,  self-governing  iustitution — it  still  remains 
for  me  to  divest  myself  of  the  almost  absolute  autliority  which, 
with  your  assent,  I  have  held  for  nearly  live  years,  and  by  so  do- 
ing to  place  the  government  and  direction  of  the  Fenian  Brother- 
hood in  the  guardianship  of  this  General  Convention." 

The  resignation  of  John  O'Mahony  was  accepted ; 
and  he  was  immediately,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Gibbons, 
of  Pennsylvania,  unanhnously  elected  Head  Centre, 
under  the  new  Constitution.  An  address  to  Ireland 
was  issued  by  this  Congress,  and  messages  of  frater- 
nity and  encouragement  received,  among  others,  from 
General  T.  F.  Meagher,  General  M.  Corcoran,  and 
Colonel  Matthew  Murphy,  of  the  Irish  Legion. 

The  transactions  of  this  Congress  added  great  vital- 
ity to  the  Fenian  cause.  The  second  National  Con- 
gress assembled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1805.  In  the  interim  the  sixty-three  branches 
had  grown  to  be  three  hundred,  while  the  financial 
receipts  exceeded  those  of  the  whole  seven  years  since 
the  Brotherhood  had  been  established. 

In  adc^ition  to  this  success,  Mr.  O'Mahony  said :  "  It 


mSTORICAL  mTROOUCTION.  61 

is  no  idle  boast  to  say  that  the  En-lish  Government 
has  been  influenced  in  no  small  degree  by  the  actions 
of  the  Fenians  here  and  at  home,  in  ubptaining  thua 
long  from  openly  aiding  in  the  dismemberment  of  our 
nnion.  Tl  as,  perhaps  fortunately  for  our  cause,  while 
working  ior  the  liberation  of  Ireland,  we  are  also  sei-v- 
ing  the  best  interests  of  America." 

Among  the  important  subjects  brought  before  tho 
Second  Congress,  was  a  lengthy  report  by  Mr.  Philip 
Coyne,  of  Missouri,  Central  Envoy  to  Ireland,  of  his 
examination  and  inspection  of  revolutionary  affairs 
in  Ireland.     He  reported  the  masses  of  the  people  as  " 
desirous  for  revolution,  and  that  the  middle  class, 
though  hesitating  to  pass  into  a  career  of  trial  and 
labor,  would  in  the  extremity  of  a  revolutionary  out- 
break, act  boldly  with  the  patriots.     The  national 
journal.  The  Irish  People,  was  recommended  for  sus- 
tainment,  for  the  courage  and  ability  it  displayed ;  and 
the  mode  of  organization  of  the  I.  II,  B.  was  declared 
to  be  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible,  being  so  arranged 
as  to  defy  the  strongest  power  or  finest  subtlety  to 
penetrate  it. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Head  Centre,  the 
Constitution  was  amended  so  that  the  Central  Council 
was  enlarged  to  ten  members,  with  a  President  chosen 
by  and  from  themselves.  He  wa.  to  act  on  occasions 
for  the  Head  Centre;  and  the  powers  of  the  Council 


m 


It  '' 


I! 


i  ': 

I  1: 


ii' 


!l   I 


I   if 


i 


I  I 


62 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYE8. 


were   materially  extended.      O'Maliony   was  unani- 
mously  re-elected. 

Meauwliilo  so  great  a  flame  could  not  exist  in 
Anioriea  without  some  smoke  becoming  visible  in  Ire- 
land.     The  newspaper  reports  of   the  progress  of 
Fenianism  in  America  were  regarded  as  astounding 
developments,  and  being  reprinted  in  England  and 
Ireland,  excited  the  anxiety,  and  enlisted  all  the  re- 
sources of  the  Irish  Government  to  watch  and  ex- 
plode the  counterpart  Revolutionary  Brotherhood,  on 
that  side  of  the  Atlantic.      But  the  Irish  Brother- 
hood was  manipulated  with  exceeding  skill  and  fore- 
sight, and  baffled  the  keenest  scent  of  the  authorities, 
while  it   spread   widely  among   the   people.     James 
Stephens,  one  of  the  youthful  participators  in  the  '48 
rising,  liad  undertaken  the  organization  of  Ireland. 
Certain  envoys  having  been  sent  to  Ireland,  from  New 
York,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  upon  what  basis  a  new 
revolutionary  organization  could    be  started  in  that 
country,  carried  letters  from  O'Mahony  to  Stephens, 
who  had  returned  from   France.     In  the  early  part 
,  of  1858,  one   of  these   envoys,  Mr.  Joseph  D^niffe, 
returned  to  America  with  a  written  document  from 
Stephens,  showing  already  a  formidable  basis  for  ac- 
tion, and  engaging,  if  he  Avere  sustained  with  certain 
funds,  to  greatly  increase  the  number  by  harvest  time. 
The  Directory  of  '48   was  appealed  to  in  vain  by 


8  unani- 

exist  in 
le  in  Ire- 
'gres9  of 
tunneling 
and  and 
I  the  re- 

and  ex- 
liood,  on 
Brother- 
md  fore- 
horities, 
James 
I  the  '48 
Ireland. 
>Tn  New 
is  a  new 

iu  that 
tejihens, 
I'ly  part 
D'^niffe, 
nt  from 

for  ac- 

certain 
st  time, 
i^ain  by 


mSTORlOAL    INTKODtJCTION.  QQ 

Meagher;  who,  if  he  did  not  actively  enter  into  the 
movement  afterwards,  would  never  wilfully  hinder 
any  measnre  undertaken  for  Irish  liberty.  The  money, 
although  not  amounting  to  more  than  two  thousand 
do  liars,  was  raised  with  difficulty.  With  the  first  in- 
stallment ot-  it,  Deniffe  was  sent  back,  also  carrying 
with  h„n  a  Commission  for  Stephens  as  Chief  dLo! 
tor  signed  by  Doheny,  O'Mahony,  and  others. 

Havmg  enrolled  some  thirty-five  thousand  men 
Stephens  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1858  to  re' 
port  progress,  and  solicit  more  generons  snbsidiJs  than 
he  had  received  from  America.     At  a  meeting  of  the 
fnends  of  Ireland  at  Tammany  Hall,  Kew  York,  the 
collection  of  a  fund  was  inangnrated ;  and  at  the  reqnest 
of  Stephens,  O'Mahony  was    created   Head  Centre 
The  arrest  in  Ireland  at  this  time  of  .the  members  of 
the    P^ia3nix  Society,"  which  showed  that  some  active 
disloyalty  existed  there,  gave  the  cause  here  a  much 
needed  impetus,  and  aided  the  purposes  of  Stephens' 
^sit.     Attention  had  been  directed  to  him   on  the 
PlicBnix  trials;  and  for  a  conple  of  years  following 
during  which  time  he  was  in  France,  the  revolution- 
ary  party  did  not  seem  to.make  much  progress  in  Ire 
land      This  partly  arose  from  the  fact  that  remittan- 
ces from  America  were  not  of  that  character  to  keep  it 
m  working  order.     In  December,  18G0,  Mr.  O'Maho- 
ny  went  to  Ireland  himself,  to  be  personally  satisfied 


r 


mmA 


■anteMMmtM-tniti 


IJIJ 


lUI 


;  'i 


I 


I     ! 


I 


!.   I 


64 


FENIAN   HEliOES  AHU  MAliXriiS. 


on  the  state  of  affairs.  The  most  important  districts 
were  inspected,  and  a  meeting  of  certain  leaders  held 
in  Dublin,  at  which  definite  plans  were  laid  down. 
Stephens  returned  to  Ireland  and  O'Mahony  to 
America,  and  the  organizations  on  both  sides  of  the 
ocean  progressed  with  powerfully  eifective  strides. 
That  Stephens  was  successful  to  a  degree  without  par- 
allel in  Ireland  for  half  a  century,  cannot  be  ques- 
tioned. With  special  qualifications  as  an  organizer, 
he  traveled  throughout  the  island  under  various  names 
and  in  many  disguises,  making  the  personal  acquaint- 
ance of  the  people,  and  was  to  them  for  some  years 
an  object  of  wonder,  almost  of  worsln'p.  That 
O'Mahony  had  also  done  wonders  in  organizing  the 
Brotherhood  in  America  and  Canada,  was  attested  by 
the  thankful  Congress  of  Chicago,  which  passed  reso- 
lutions recording  his  wisdom,  genius,  eminent  purity 
and  heroic  virtues,  during  the  five  trying  years 
through  wliich  the  organization  had  struggled. 

The  mystery  which  baffled  the  Government  in  Ire- 
land, and  the  might  which  the  auxiliary  Fenian  Soci- 
ety of  America  represented,  combined  to  bewilder 
and  exasperate  tlie  authorities.  At  tlic  close  of  the 
Civil  War  many  officers  of  the  Irish  Brigade,  Irish  Le- 
gion, and  other  Irish-American  commands,  which  had 
seen  much  service,  found  their  way  into  Ireland.  Of 
these  not  a  few  regarded  their  preservation  in  the 


HISTORICAL    INTEODUCnoir.  q^ 

on  their  native  soil     Y  <=«»ntry„>e„  to  victory 

books  of  drilHn  t      7^"^  ""'"  ^'"^  ''"""'J  <J'-'"'-ng. 
"-i  ^liii-instruction  were  aUn  rii.  -.  .  ^* ' 

eious  plaee,,  and  a  varietyoft        "''"'"  ^^P'" 

growing  excitement     T  '"''  '*^^«<'  ^o  the 

«.e  ihi  gov~  wa::;::f  "'^*'-~ ''-" 

only  CoA-ancl  Dublin  Tnd  T      "  "  "  '"'"''  ""'  ""' 

^>-;%a,t,,  h„t  that  ^::^'::^-^^-^^^;^ 

soldiery,  and  that  the  con,pi„cvLd  "^  "'" 

cations  in  Liverpool   m  ,         T''*'"''^^  ™'n'fi- 

of  £200  was  offered  for  the  eapt^  "L  t  """'■' 
the  transatlantic  steamers  were  dd  T  "''  "" 
for  lrish-A,„erican-loohin,  peJo  s  nd  ™' ,"■""''' 
-g  of  the  15th  of  September  IS  "otT  ^T"" 
-as  seized,  and  severa  arrests  mad!  ■  .  ^""^ 
ClarteLnby  J  O'Dnn ,       /^         '     ''"*"S ^''omas 

*'-'-eo^.ieirortit.trr"^^"^^ 

rests  in  Dublin     Cnr^  a  a    1  ^""lerous  ar- 

--eof^eiiSti;;:::-^;-. 

t>.e  «e..eant-Major:f^^^J:;~;'.  ^"^ 
'"teed  his  signature  to  a  fZ  roS T  ',"  """• 
i'ad   been    captured     Tl  •  ^""'^    "■''''^'' 

-onrity,   and       "sed  a         '"'''''''  ""'"'''''"'  -■ 
y,   and   caused  a   ru„   on    the   Cork    banks. 


'! 

% 

ii       r 

it 

1 

i 

FENIAK   HERGES   AND  MAETYEg. 

Bills  of  ExcliaTige  from  the  Fenian  Treasury  in  KeW 
York  to  the  Irish  leaders,  amounting  to  no  less  than  v 
£3,000  were  intercepted,  and  arrests  of  many  import- 
ant local  centres  continued  to  be  effected. 

This  intelligence  awoke  widely-extended  sympathy 
in  America  ;   and  after  sitting  for  some  days  in  New 
York  the  Central  Council  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood 
issued  a  call  for  a  Congress  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia, 
on  the  16th  of  October.     The  deliberations  of  this  as- 
sembly  were  looked  to  with  anxious  anticipation.    It 
was  very  largely  attended,  and  the  enlhusiasm  which 
had  already  existed  was  greatly  intensified  by  the  arri- 
Tal  on  the  19th,  direct  from  Ireland,  of  Mr.  P.  J.  Mee- 
han,  who  had  visited  it  as  the  accredited  envoy  of  the 
Brotherhood.     His  report,  which  exhibited  the  accom-  . 
plishment  of  a  magnificent  work,  the  organization  as 
powerful,  the  management  masterly,  and  the  position 
solid,  was  received  with  exciting  demonstrations.    The 
most  important  measure  of  the   Congress,   however, 
was  one  changing  the  Constitution  and  ofiicers,  and 
drawing  not  a  httle  ridicule  on  the  organization.     The 
new  Constitution  created  a  President,  and  Secretariea 
of  the  Treasury,  Military,  Naval  and  Civil  Afitiirs,  a 
Senate,  the  President  of  which  would  be  Vice-Presi- 
dent  of  the  Brotherhood,  a  House  of  Delegates,  and 
all  the  governmental  paraphernalia,  in  name,  of  a  dis- 
tinct republic,  within  the  American  Eepublic.     Other 


f ! 


7  in  Kew 
less  than  v 
y  import- 

sympatliy 
;-s  in  Ne\V 
otlierliood 
ladelpliia, 
of  this  as* 
ation.     It 
Lsra  which 
>y  the  arri- 
P.  J.  Mee- 
ivoy  of  the   , 
;lie  accom-  . 
iiization  as 
le  position 
ions.    The 
however, 
Seers,  and 
tion.     The 
Secretaries 
I  Affairs,  a 
Vice-Presi* 
3gates,  and 
le,  of  a  (lis* 
lie.     Other 


fiisTOEicAL  mrnomcno^.  q^ 

Important  and  depreciating  changes  were  made ;  and 

n  a  ver,  br.ef  period  thereafter  the  vital  d.fferences 

"^■educed  into  the  Constitution  were  angn.ntecl,; 

di«=renees  between  the  "President"  and  the  "Sen^ 

.  t"™"*  of  the  body  of  the  organisation.  I„  a  per- 
Bonal  way  the  diiferences  bred  distemper,  distemper 
v.h«eat,on    viiiiicatio.   snbterfnge,    aid  'snbtX 

b^iacea  hy  the  cl.arges  and  coimter-cJiaro-ea 

Pnnt.     The  record  of  tliese  painful  contii  ;s  would 
occupy  vohnnes :  I  feel  hu.nihated  to  have  to  refer  to 

that  John  O'Mahony  had  been  declared  the  nnanin.ous 
Cl0.ce  of  Senate  and  Delegates,  for  President,  and 
was  elected  j  and  that  the  seceding  party,  .„o„„  l,,"^ 
were  twelve  of  the  fifteen  newly-cri  ed  Se"  1*2 

Jlnch  followed  the  latter,  developed  into  an  armed 
expedmon  mto  Canada,  which  was  attractive  to  alarge 
class  as  oilenng  more  immediate  excitement.  Thus 
t^e  Po^verfu.  Fenian  organization  of  An.rica,  becan" 

and  The  Canadian  Party.     Under  these  exigences,  tl^ 


r". 


;: 


ll 


II 


M 


i  \ 


68 


FENIAN   HEEOES  AND  MAETYE3. 


former  held  a  Fourth   National  Congress,  in  KeW 
York,  January  2, 1866.     Over  four  hundred  delegates, 
the  largest  representation  of  Fenians  that  had  ever 
met,  assembled,  from   Australia,  the  Pacific   shores, 
British   Columbia,   Canada,  and   all  portions  of  the 
United  States.     The  old   Constitution  was  restored, 
the  Senate  abolished,  the  history  of  the  differences 
reviewed,  an    address    issued,   and    O'Mahony   rein- 
vested with  the  old  oiiice  of  Head  Centre.     The  pro- 
ceedings of  this  Congress  were  accepted  by  a  Military 
Convention,  which  assembled  in  New  York,  on  the 
22d  of  February,  the  anniversary  of  Washington's 
birth-day,   and  issued  a   spirited   address   signed  by 
eighty-five  ofiicers  and  forty  sergeants,  nearly  every 
one  of  whom  had  seen  service. 

In  the  meantime  there  was  no  diminution  of  the 
excitement  in  Irelaiid;  and  if  anything  would  have 
united  the  discordant  elements  in  America,  a  contem- 
plation of  the  state  of  afifairs  there  should  have  done  it. 
The  arrest  of  Stephens  in  Ireland  was  a  great  triumph 
for  the  authorities ;  but  his  defiant  course  when  brought 
before  the  magistrates,  and  his  subsequent  wonderful 
escape  from  jpil,  soon  turned  the  tables,  and  gave  the 
victory  to  Fenianism  and  the  people.  Notwithstand- 
ing that  the  Irish  Attorney-General,  at  the  close  of 
the  Special  Commission,  which  tried  the  Fenian  pris- 
oners, boasted  that  "  every  single  individual  connect- 


HISTORICAL  INTRODirCTION. 


)nderful 
;ave  the 
tlistand- 
close  of 
an  pris- 
connect- 


69 

ed  with  the  Iruh  PeopUr  and  every  one  of  mavk, 
.nd.cated  m  the  captured  correspondence  of  Stephens 
and  others,  had  been,  witli  one  or  two  e.x-eyions 
ai-rested  and  convicted;*  still  in  the  middle  of  Febru- 
a>y,  1806,  the  suspension  of  the  Ilahea^  Corpus  was 
deemed  necessary  to  control  tl>e  wild  current  of  con- 
spu-aey  wh,eh  the   Government  could  not  otherwise 

Tlie   debate   on   tins  measure,  which   took  place 
on  the  irth  February,  was  rather  brilliant,  and'asi: 
bears  dn^eetly  on  the  state  of  Ireland,  some  facts  elicit- 
ed m  It  very  fitly  fall  into  a  brief  narrative  of  the 
times.     In  proposing  and  advocating  the  bill    Sir 
George  Grey,  the  Home  Secretary,  traced  the  history 
of  Fen,an,sm,  from  his  stand-point,  up  to  the  close  of 
he  Amencan  War,  when  it  took  a  more  threaten- 
•ng  aspect.     In  the  papei-s  and  proclamations  captur- 
ed, he  saw  that  the  desire  of  the  Fenians  was  the 
disruption  of  the  connection  with  England.     The  cap- 
ture and  conviction  of  so  many  of  the  leaders  had 
not  produced  any  good  result. 

^xiiitiica,  to  tlie  amount  of 

*  Vp  to  tho  introduction  of  tlie  hill  fnr  th^  =, 

thirty  dx  had  been  tried,  convicted  Ind  son?  '''T'""  °^  ''''  ""'""'  ^-/'"^ 
servitude.  '  ''"''^'"^'l'  ^nd  sentenced  to  various  terms  of  penal 


■ 


!  i 


I 


!:i 

ii 

1         1 

1      \  \ 

'  ■ 

ii 

i  [ 

i 

70 


FKNIAN   HEROKS   AND   MAUTYE8. 


no  less  than  £3,000,  arldressed  to  the  leaders  of  the  consph-acy 
wlio  were  then  in  custody,  were  intercepted  by  the  Govennneut, 
Tlie  Iri.sh  Fcoide  newspaper,  wliich  liad  been  suppressed  in  Dub- 
lin, was  ostentati(JUsly  republished  in  America,  and  sent  to  Ireland 
for  circulation  about  the  country.  Of  course,  wherever  that  paper 
has  been  found  containing  treasonable  articles,  it  has  been  seized  by- 
order  of  the  Government,  and  any  person  found  circulating  it  is 
subject,  no  doubt,  to  a  prosecution ;  but  if  this  paper  is  brought 
over,  and  privately  ciiculated  by  the  agents,  who  are  constantly 
coming  from  America,  it  is  impossible  for  the  Government,  under 
the  existing  power  of  the  law,  to  prevent  it. " 

The  Secretary  justified  the  suspension,  on  the  de- 
mands made  by  Lord  Wodehouse,  the  Viceroy  of  Ire* 
land,  whose  letters  were  full  of  most  significant  testi- 
mony to  the  power  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood, 
Writing  on  the  21st  January,  18GG,  Lord  Wodehouse 
says : 

*'  I  hope  that  the  presence  of  troops  in  some  of  the  towns  may 
perhaps  allay  the  general  alarm.  I  am,  however,  by  no  means 
confident  on  this  point,  and  I  wish  to  call  the  serious  attention  of 
the  Government  to  the  state  of  affairs  here,  which  I  regret  to  say 
becomes  daily  more  unsatisfactory.  When  the  People  was  seized 
and  the  arrests  made,  the  Fenians  were  for  a  while  stunned  by  the 
blow,  especially  by  the  arrest  of  Stephens,  buf  after  Stephens'  es- 
cape their  spirits-grea;:_.  revived,  and  their  activity  was  renewed. 
At  the  present  moment,  notwithstanding  the  perfect  success  of  the 
Crown  at  the  trials,  they  are  more  active  than  ever.  I  waited  pa- 
tiently to  see  would  the  alarm  in  the  country  subside,  but  the 
alarm  has  gone  on  continually  increasing.  I  am  now  disposed  to 
try  what  ellect  can  be  prcxlueed  by  proclamations,  and  by  detach- 
ing troops  to  the  more  remote  districts.  With  this  view,  we  are 
about  to  send  troops  to  Tralee  and  Sligo,  and  to  proclaim  the  coun- 
ties of  Sligo  and  Carlow,  in  accordance  with  the  strongly  express- 
ed wishes  of  the  magistrates.    Other  proclamati  )ns  will  probably  b«- 


«ii 


mSTORICAL     rNTROTUTnoir.  71 

zai  ion  lias  its  piiid  a-onts  in  mn«f  »f .      .  ^'''^  '''"S'"'^^- 

return  of  men  who  scrv,.,!  :„  .1      a  recruits.     I  send  you  a 

Cher.  Who  ccape  Zf...     iZe  T  ed  J '™  •,■"■"'  °°   *"""' 
tlie  rest  of  Irelaml     Tl,.  ,r.  J  7,  '""''"'  ™™"  '"'m 

skte  them   ;e  know  1,  "°''''  *"'-'"o"»  class.     Be- 

«oancu.;r:;:or:rrr^^^^^^^^ 

asents  of  revolution  >,n,l  ,  '"  '"■™'  "«>  Paid 

o?.eo  se..r:r;vii,  Xa^^^^^^^^^^^^^  ';r  ^""'r 
v^rs-^:i:;^;r.hr^^^^^^^^  ^^  r  -:::™u  asr 

the  s„s,.„.io„  of  ,ae  /fcL  "o,i;ro.1"f  '  T™"  "' 
right  to  warn  ,Ue  Cabinet  that,  ia  TL«  T?  "^""S"  " 
not  fat-  distant."  JMgment,  that  moment  is 

He  says  thoy  have  arrested  various  agents  from 

tlietn  the  evidence  necessary  to  convict  tl.em."     Tl.ev 

usually  had  "  .h,„.,oo,.  "  and  ntoney.     On  the  4thlf 

ohntary,  h.s  E.xcCIency  has  h'ttle  hope  of  pacifying 

i  f '■"•7''  "'«  »«^.  he  is  in  better  spirits,  look! 

tng  forward  to  "  the  suppression  of  the  conspiracy 


"'»°*'-T>^fH|llii    , 


I 


ii 


72 


PENTAN   HEROES  AND  MAETYRS. 


by  the  moans  at  liis  disposal,"  by  "  a  judicious  dis- 
posal  of  the  troops  at  his  command ;"  but,  on  the 
14th,   he   finds   he  has  not  power   enough  to  do  it, 
and   that    tlie   only   safety   of  the    English   interest 
in  Ireland  depends  on  the  suspension  of  the  Tlaheaa 
Corpus.     Is  othing  would  save  it  but  "  prompt,  imme- 
diate action."     "  Tlie  state  of  affiiirs,"  he  writes,  "  is 
very  serious.     The   conspirators,  undeterred   by  the 
punishment  of  so  many  of  their  leaders,  are  actively 
organizing  an  outbreak,  with  a  view  to  dostr«y  the 
Queen's  authority."     Sir  Hugh  Eose  liad  detailed  to 
his  Excellency  various  plans  of  action  he  liad  discov- 
ered, and  also  that  the  American  agents  were  getting 
plans  of  detached  forts  and  barracks. 

"And  he  draws  no  exaggerated  picture.  Tliere  are  scattered 
over  the  country  a  number  of  agents,  who  ai-e  swearhig  in  mem- 
bers, and  who  are  prepared  to  talie  the  command  wlien  tlie  mo- 
ment  anlves.  These  men  are  of  the  most  dangerous  class,  Thev 
ai-e  Irishmen  imbued  with  American  notions,  thoroughly  reckless, 
and  possessed  of  considerable  military  experience,  acquired  on  a 
field  of  warfare,  (the  civil  war  in  America,)  admirably  adapted.tr. 
train  them  for  conducting  an  insurrection  here.  There  are  340 
such  men  known  to  the  police  in  the  provinces,  and  those  known 
in  Dublin  amount  to  about  160,  so  that  in  round  numboi-s  there  are 
500 — of  course  thei-e  are  many  more  who  escape  notice.  This 
number  is  being  augmented  by  fresh  men  c  distantly  arriving  from 
America.  In  Dublin  itself  there  are  several  hundred  men  (per- 
haps about  300  or  400)  wlio  have  come  over  from  England  and 
Scotland,  who  receive  Is.  Gd.  a  day,  and  are  waiting  for  the  time 
of  action.  Any  one  may  observe  these  men  loitering  about 
at  the  corners  of  the  sti-eets.     (Heai-,  hear.)    As  to  arms  we  have 


icious  dig- 
it, on  the 
to  do  it, 
li  interest 
lie  TLtheaa 
pt,  imme- 
i^rites,  "  is 
i  by  the 
3  actively 
»str«y  the 
ctailed  to 
id  discov- 


e  getting 


re  scattered 
g  in  uiem- 
en  the  mo- 
ass.  They 
ly  reckless, 
[uired  on  a 
fidapted.t;' 
!re  are  340 
ose  known 
rs  tliere  are 
tice.  This 
living  from 
men  (per- 
ighmd  and 
n-  the  time 
•ing  about 
IS  wo  have 


mSTORIOAL    mTRODtlcnON. 


73 

i«-  Of  co„«,  wic, ;, J!r  ?  r  '"''°  '  """"■"' '"°'°  «• 

w™  i„.  The  .lisafeC  of  .h  ""  ™  '""^'  """  ""^  "^  P«« 
Cay  by  day  ^proaiLg  Ij al7^„;f  "''''"•  "^  'J»™'"«.  "-d  i.  i« 
■nen.  IB  tte  attempt  t„  .aducc  tt^trol " r^'"  ""'  ''"='™'  °'»™- 

=o^^~:l- -  ^^^^^^^  "::  :r.  t;  :- 

Jd  not  believe  the  Secreta^  overstated  t  w"  '    S! 
the  contrary,  J,e  believed  that  if  tl,„ 

people  of  Ireland  had  tht";;ri:S':?!'; 
they  would  remove  their  island  tl  *,  '*' 

-est  of  England;  that  th^ ir; tb^ n  "- 

conspiraey,  insurrection,  or  conrt'ut l    T  "'      '    ^ 

Bl.ake  oif  English  domination To^r    ^''*"' 

~  .rrtplfa"?:SrerC^  ««=^  «»  yea,,  of  ,v. 
land  engaged  ia  a  con^piracTrr'J        "  ""'  ^''"Pl''  ■>'  &e-       ' 
Crown  of  Great  Britain    LnT  to  f„?  m""  "■"  ""'""■•"y  «'■  '"o 
from  its  connection  with  Enrfaad      W   ^  '"'""'"''  ""'''  O""""^ 
-re  and  «ing„ar  oceun-ence  t ^  hi^":."?'  T^  "'"""'"«  » 
■8  only  an  aggravated  outbreak  of  an  !?7^      f"""'  '  ^«"ianism 
memotyofthe  oldest  man  in  M,r  "^^  t"^'^""'  ""  within  the 
from    chronic    di8afre«roa     ".''"fi ''"■»""«»■"«  been  f„e 
House  undertook  to  govern  Ireland     T  „-n  '^  ^""^   ^  *'' 
circumstances  under  which  the  union  ofTh!  7  ""''"«  °'  "» 
place,  save  that  they  were  disgracTfrand  """'""^  «°* 

^  ^^^^"^  and  corrupt  to  the  last  de. 


u 


FEKTAN  HEROES  AND  MAKTYR9. 


'I 


\i 


■;'■ '      t 


I      ! 


r    I; 


•11 
]    ill! 


gree.    I  will  say  notliing  of  tho  manner  in  which  the  promlsci 
made  to  the  Jrinh  people  were  broken." 

During  this  peviotl,  in  liis  opinion,  but  tliree  acts 
of  Irish  relief  were  pussed,  while 

"Complaints  of  their  suirerings  have  been  met  often  by  denial, 
often  by  insult,  and  often  by  contempt  (hear)  ;  and  within  the  last 
f(;w  years  wo  liave  heard  from  this  very  Tr'^isuiy  Bench  obseiTa- 
tioiis  with  regard  to  Ireland  which  no  iricnd  of  Ireland,  or  of  Eng- 
land, and  no  jMlnister  of  the  Crown  ought  ever  to  have  uttered, 
with  regard  to  that  country.  (Cheers.)  Twice  in  my  Parliament- 
nry  life  these  things  have  been  done — at  least  by  the  close  of  this 
day  they  ^vill  have  l)een  done — that  measures  of  repression,  meas- 
lu'ea  of  suspension  of  the  civil  rights  of  the  peoi)le,  have  be<Mi 
brought  into  Parliament,  and  passed  with  extreme  and  unusual 
rapidity.  *  *  *  If  I  go  back  to  the  Ministers  who  have  sal  on 
these  benches  since  I  have  been  in  the  House — Sir  Robert  Peel 
first,  then  Lord  John  Russell,  then  Lord  Derby,  then  Lord  Aber- 
deen, then  Lord  Palmerston,  then  Lord  Derby  again,  and  now  Earl 
Russell — they  did  not  all  sit  here,  and  I  speak,  of  course,  of  thtir 
governments,  I  say  with  regard  to  all  these  men,  the  dead  and  the 
living,  there  has  not  been  an  approach  to  anything  that  history  will 
describe  as  statesmanship  In  this  matter.  (Hear,  hear.)  Coercion 
Bills  in  abundanee,  Arms  Bills  Session  after  Session — lamentations 
like  that  of  the  right  hon.  gentleman,  the  member  for  Buekingliam- 
Bhlre  to-day,  that  the  suspension  of  the  Habeas  Corpun  Act  to  a 
certain  extent  was  not  made  perpetual  by  a  clause  which  he  regrets 
was  repealed — Acts  for  tho  suspension  of  the  Jrabras  Coipus 
Act,  like  that  which  we  are  now  discussing — all  these  there  have 
been;  but  there  has  been  no  statesmanship.  tHear,  hear.)  Why, 
men  the  most  clumsy  and  the  most  brutal  can  do  these  things  ;  but 
it  wants  men  of  higher  tern  per,  of  higher  genius,  and  I  will  even 
add  of  higher  patriotism  to  deal  with  the  allhlrs  of  Ireland." 

Recurring  to  the  strong  terms  in  which  the  Secre- 
tary referred  to  the  "unhappy  tact"  that* much  of  the 


f§ 


lie  promlscg 
liree  acts 


by  denial, 
liin  the  lust 
ch  obseiTii- 
,  or  of  Eng- 
ive  uttenMl, 
I'iirlianu'iit' 
;1()S0  of  tills 
slon,  mcas- 

hdve  bcvii 
nd  unusnul 
lavc  sal  ou 
Robert  Peel 
Lord  Abcr- 
d  now  Earl 
se,  of  th(.a' 
'ad  and  the 
history  will 
Coercion 
imcntations 
ickingham- 
18  Act  to  a 
1  he  regrets 
IS  Coijnifi 
tlicre  Iiave 
ir.)  Why, 
hings ;  but 
'.  will  even 
Qd." 

10  Secre- 
jli  of  tlie 


nisTORioAi  iNTRODpcmoir.  75 

di^afToetion   in  Ireland  was  eent    from   t!,o  TTnffed- 
states,  Mr.  Briglit  could  take  no  consolation  from  it 
It  only  added  difficulty  and  .nuity  to  the  question ;' 
ior  il  the  Irish  have  settled  in  Am...lca  with  80  strong 
an  hostil.ty  to  England,  "  they  have  had  their  reasons  •'' 
and  If,  with  the  feeling  of  aifection  for  their  native 
country,  winch  in  all  other  cases  they  « admired  and 
reverenced,''  the  American  Irish  stirred  up  the  sedi- 
tion winch  existed,  "depend  upon  it  there  is  in  the 
condition  of  Ireland  a  state  of  things  which  greatly 
favors  their  attempts."    After  rating  the  ministers  for 
lack  of  statesmanship,  in  fighting  for  office,  and  not 
considering  either  their  duty  to  the  people  or  the  soy. 
ereign,  hesaid: 

the  Home  Secretary's  500  mon  ?«  ^.o.  i   .  ^  "  P^* 

bers  of  tliia  H„,..„  .     '■"'-•"'  '"^'"^■;    Anil  tliwe  mem. 

w!  ?1  Ho„se_y„a„„,,r  it  may  te  than  I  am-,vho  mav  b« 

ta^  of  S  """'•  ""^  """  "'""-^  Mi„i.ry  and  another  sltt! 
taiy  of  State  propostng  to  them  another  admmistration  „t  f^ 
same  eyer-fam„g  ,,„d  poisonous  medieme."      """*''"™  °'  ""= 

Althongh  the  key-note  of  Bright's  speech  was  how 
by  good  governtnent  to  tnake  tlie  Irish  as  loyal  as  the 
Scotch  and  English,  yet  Mr.  Roebuck  characterized  it 


76 


PENLLN  HEKOES  AND  MARTYRS. 


tih  i 


;    111 


< 


fis  meant  for  mero  inlscliief,  as  "  Trislmion  luul  no  ^^^riov- 
aii('(38  to  coinpluin  of."   Mr.  HorHiiian  thou-lit  Hri-rht^B 
epeccli  "valuablo   only   to   tlio    F(.nian   conspiracy." 
Mr.  Stuart  Mill  did  not  blame  her  Majcrtty'B  ministers 
for  the  present  state  of  affairs,  as  they  could  not  be  ro- 
Bponsiblo  "  for  the  misdeeds  and  ne^Tlect  of  centuries," 
but  he  a^^^reed  with  Bright  that  the  Bill  was  cause  of 
eharae  and  humiliation   to   England.     The  question 
then  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Irish  members.     Mr. 
John   B.   Dillon   thought  that  Fenianism  was  exa<r- 
gerated,  because  he  was  able  to  defeat  its  influence  at 
the  last  general  election,  but  he  perfectly  well  knew  on 
the  other  hand  that  whatever  power  the  organization 
liossessed,  was  derived  from  the  general  dissatisfaction 
of  the  Irish  people,  arising  out  of  years  of  misgovern- 
mont.     This  conviction  justified  him  in  opposing  the 
measure  introduced  by  the  Government.     He  briefly 
replied  to  Eoebuck's  sneer  that  Ireland  had  no  griev- 
ance.    They  excused  the  necessity  of  doing  justice  to 
Ireland  by  publishing  for  years  that  she  was  in  pro- 
found repose  and  contentment :  and  when  she  is  not 
contented,   but   seditious,   they   also   use   that    as    a 
reason  to  withhold  beneficial  legislation.     Dillon,  for 
one,  could  not  aid  them  in  any  effort  to  quell  that 
discontent  which,  he  believed,  was  caused  by  a  de- 
nial of  justice.     In  his  opinion,  discontent  and  dis- 
affection were  not  unmixed  evils,  as  he  believed  that 


t. 


i:  -A 


1  no  fj;piov- 

rirtpinicy." 
ministora 
not  be  re- 
enturies," 
3  cause  of 
question 
era.     Mr. 
►vurt  exug- 
flucnce  at 
1  know  on 
;aniz}ition 
.tiafaction 
iisgovern- 
osing  the 
lo  briefly 
no  griev- 
justice  to 
8  in  pro- 
he  is  not 
at    as    a 
illon,  for 
ucll  that 
by  a  de- 
and  dis- 
ved  that 


HiSTonioAL  iNTnontroTioiT.  ^^ 

n.:t;™  tr  'Y't """•  """•"  -""''•  "-  ^-n 

of  the  com  laws  """^  "'"'"'•  *''"  ''""'''" 

^n  the  H„s:r  :r:rr;,r '^"""  «- 

Fenians  to  be  the  takinlont'  /"''''""  "'  *''« 
O'Donoghue,  though  „„°  a  ^  „  '"'"'^-  ""'" 
defeneeandeoveJoCj/:X:r  '-'-' 

to  that  allegation,  because  he  tocw"haLf„r  ^^"''°''  "o  ^"'s"' 
made  against  all  those  who  atTnv  ,i!^!  ,   .     '  °'""'S°'  '«"'  b'™ 

^^ont  a  national  n>„.emen.^'Xn7  Th  '""'"™""'  '"  "^^ 
p'Connoll  (hear,  hear,  from  Mr  S'tl  ^7 .7^'"  "^^  "S"'-'' 
ho  might  be  allowed  to  say  so-a^t  '7  ,  '"'^  "^  -»«>«-if 
tenny  (Sir  J.  Gray),  when  he  wl,  *""■•  "™''«  »"  Al- 

mond Bridewell.  ^leh  ta^^)  "^^'^'"^ '"mate  of  Bieh. 
»»  donbt  useful  m  throwing  d-rldi.o^T°'"' '''''''''«<' ''''" 
maintained  that  when  those  stall™  !  movement,  but  ho 

was  dlsereditable  to  use  them. '"  (H^.  le^r.^        '  '°"°^'"""'  " 

Coercion  was  not  what   Ireland    required       Th 

O  Donoghue  belie vorl  ,-f  «,     i^  «4uirea.      The 


•^ 


(111 
if  l!^ 


H' 


fV-fi 


BB4 

r 

HII !] 

1 

|HI| 

1 

■ 

MH:! 

<^ 

78 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MAHTYES. 


nal  that  tiie  notice  of  tlio  bill  was  received  with  cheera. 
These  came,  he  said,  "from  the  representatives  orde- 
luders  of  the  small  Orange  party  of  Ulster,  who  looked 
upon  it    that  the  greatest  blessing  the  Government 
could  bestow  on  Ireland  would  be  to  suspend  the  Con- 
stitution, not  for  six  months,  but  for  ever."     Out  of  a 
House  of  three  hundred  and  seventy  members,  but 
six  voted  against  leave  to  bring  in  the  Bill.     Hence  it 
was  brought  in  and  put  through  all  its  stages  within 
twelve  hours.     With  similar  speed  it  went  through 
the  Lords  the  same  day;  the  Earl  of  Derby  taking 
occasion  to  say  he  could  not  admit  "that  the  Fenian 
conspiracy  was   entirely  due  to   the   closing  of  the 
American  war,   because  he  knew  that  in  1859,  the 
Phffinix  conspiracy  prevailed  in  Ireland,  and  had  nu- 
merous  branches  in  America."     The  celerity  of  Eng- 
lish  legislation,  in  this  instance,  in  bringing  aid  to 
the  English  interest  in  Ireland  was  almost  without 
parallel.* 

All  of  which  was  an  acknowledgment  to  the  world, 
as  plain  as  words  and  actions  could  make  it.  that  the 
perennial  protestations  of  England  to  the  effect  that 
Ireland  was  profoundly  happy,  contented  and  improv- 
ing, was  a  wanton  and  heartless  fabrication  to  shield 

•  Bat  two  cases  of  similar  promptitude  occur  in  the  history  of  English  le^is, 
lation :  cue  when  a  bill  wan  passed  to  aid  recruiting  of  land  forces  when  GeoTge 
i™     rrrth    Y'"''T'''  '"'^^^^^^d  declared  war  against  France,  April  3, 

iri  nV  T  4     U  °° ''''  ''^  "'  ^"^'  '^'•'''  '°  '^'''  '^'  grievances  of  the  saj 
era  of  the  Royal  Navy,  which  culminated  in  the  "  Mutiny  of  the  Nore." 


w 


f,U 


itii  clieers. 
ives  or  de- 
dio  looked 
'vernment 
1  the  Con- 
Out  of  a 
bers,  but 

Hence  it 
:e8  within 
;  through 
by  taking 
e  Fenian 
g  of  the 
.859,  the 

had  nu- 
'  of  Eng- 
g  aid  to 

without 

le  world, 
that  the 
fcct  that 
improv- 
;o  shield 

nglish  legi*. 
i^hen  George 
Qce,  April  3, 
i  of  the  sail- 
ore," 


HISTORICAL   INTRODUCTION.  79 

her  continued  mis-go vernmont  of  that  country.     This 
preaching  of  Irish  prosperity  when  there  is  dearth,  of 
contentment   when  there  is  discontent,   of  improve- 
ment when  there  is  impoverishment,  is  a  very  old  sub- 
terfuge.    Swift  strove  to  combat  it.     In  his  day  the 
coartier  who  wished  to  be  successful,  kept  the  Irish 
question  out  of  sight,  by  misrepresenting  the  state  of 
the  country,  and  alleging  it  was  «in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition,  the  rent  and  purchase  of  land  every  day  in- 
creasing."    ^^'If,"  ,ay.  Swift,  in  1727,  "a  gentleman 
happens  to  be  a  little  more  sincere  in  his  representa- 
tion, besides  being  looked  on  as  not  well-affected,  he  is 
sure  to  have  a  dozen  contradictors  at  his  elbow  ' 

In  Swift's  statement,  Mr.  Bright  could  find  another 
Illustration  of  his  charge  on  the  wilful  .pathy  of  Eng- 
lish ministers  toward  Irish  rights,  for  the  case  is  ex- 
actly the  same  to-day  as  when  the  Dean  of  St  Pat-. 
nek  s  wrote  his  able  but  short  view  of  the  state  of 


80 


(  1 


1 1  ' 


ii  !■ 


'i^ 


111 


FENIAN  HEKOES  AND  MAETYKS, 


CHAPTER  IIi; 

THE    INSUEREOITON    IN    mELANB-AMERIOAN    SYMPAlTIT. 

^^^'or%tZZ':\TSZV^^^^^^^^^  ^«  A.erica-A.iv. 

Canadian  Party  dirrJ  ZnZ^^^   ^  'etires-Invasion  of  Canada-The 
Kerry-SeaS<:rsSs  t  pZ^^  "  Failure-Rising  la 

Ireland-Prodamaurn  of  pL^SnTp         '^  Insurrectionary  Movements  in 
-Massey  betrayTt^^e  Mt«-ilf;™^^  *"«"^  "^^  ««^'^-- 

New  York-Great  Meetir.<rT^  ^"'^^^^'^y^"  Amenca-Pifth  Congress  m 

NegotiationslrlfonL'cL^^^^^^^  ^T  '^'^^"^  ««^— 

pathy  reported  bv  Gon  T^^L    f      I  Congress-Kesolutions  of  Sym, 

Ireland  Tmnq  ilL;the^eon7p  f'^  '^""^  ^"*'  ""  "-'^'^<'  ^"«°»  d«-l'»^« 
Bright-RenSable  Speech  ^f^  MrMcntrSt^'^r  ''°"^^"  ""'^  ^^^• 
should  not  be  TranqnU-Sixth  N.Hn^^Tn  ^  ^  '^'"''"■''  *»>"*  ^••«^"°d 
savage  elected  Chief  lecS^emarki"^""    '''  "  New  York-Mr. 

The  suspension  of  the  Rahas  Corpus  gave  tho 
sought-for  scope  to  the  English  authorities  in  Ireland 
Arrests  were  made  on  every  side,  and  prisoners  wero 
counted    by  hundreds.      The  secret   movements  of 
btephens  were  continuous  sources  of  excitability,  and 
a  Feman  riot  in  Bradford,  Yorkshire,  at  which  the 
Irish  Republic  was  cheered,  and  the  police  severely 
handled,  was  not  calculated  to  raise  public  confidence. 
In  America,  the  news  begat  renewed  activity  all 
over  the  countiy.    Mass  meetings  in  the  open  air  and 
in  the  prmcipal  public  halls  were  held  in  Kew  York 


OIPATHT, 

erica — Arriv 
Canada— The 
re— Rising  ia 
foveinents  in 
:  the  Soldiers 
Congress  in 
)r  Hoffman- 
ions  of  8yin« 
icon  declares 
isell  and  Mr. 
that  Ireland 
V  York— Mr, 


:ave  tho 
Ireland, 
!rs  were 
lents  of 
ity,  and 
lich  the 
severely 
fidence, 
^ity  all 
air  and 
'  York, 


HISTORICAL    DTTEODtJCTlON.  gj 

^V^a^Ungton,  Philadelphia,  Brooklyn,  Boston,  Balti- 
more.  Savannah,  Mobile,  and  many  other  cities  and 
towns,  and  a  general  clamor  for  action  came  from  all 
pomts  to  the  headquarters  in  New  York.     The  Insh 
party  and  the  Canadian  party  still  continued  to  widen 
the  breach  between  them,  and  while  the  latter  was 
preparing  to  move  on  Canada,  the  former  made  a  fu- 
tile  attempt  to  occupy  Campo  Bello  as  a  military  de- 
pot.    Soon  after  this  event  Mr.  Stephens  arrived  in 
New  York  amid  great  eclat,  and  O'Mahony  withdrew 
to  give  h,s  coadjutor  a  chance  to  adjust  differences. 

trolTf  TT  T  ""'■  """'"''^  """'-^  y-'-J  t"^-^  »n- 
trol  of  the  Canadian  party,  as  O'Mahony  had  retired 

from  that  of  the  Irish  party,  and  thus  open  thlw" 
for  a  union  of  both  under  the  lead  of  Stephens.     This 
hope,  however,  was  without  foundation ;  and  the  ^-jv 
mer  making  a  move  on  Canada,  and  engaging  the  Ca- 
nadian troops  at  Kidgeway,  attracted  universal  atten- 
tion.   Thus  becoming  the  "party  of  action"  for  the 
moment,  the  Canadian  party  greatly  distracted   the 
Feman  element,  and  effectually  inteifered  with  Ste- 
phens  purpose  in  America. 

To  counteract  the  eifect  of  the  raid  across  the  St 
lawrence  as  well  as  to  keep  pace  with  a  demand  tor 
a  tion  which  he  had  cultivated  i„  the  public  mind 
Stephens  made  promises,  which  he  was  not  able  to 
perform.    He  promised  to  eifect  a  rising  in  Irell^ 


?.:r»" 


Bi 


liii! 


83  "^AK  BEE0E3  AM,  MAEWRS. 

.     by  a  stated  time,  and    when  that   time  arrived    r. 

'  ®  ^^^'^"^P^G  of  perhaps  the  o-reatP^f- 

»  dorn  po„ieia„,  O'Conne.l,  for  such'  cou^l^t 
a  to  be  looped  that  the  race  whieh  a  quarter  of  a'cen 
^"7  ago  penodicallyeheered  the  announcement  tilt 
Jepea   would  be  attained  "in  si.  months"  isTxti         ' 

ZwTv  "'y'-'"'' '°  ^■"----  '"-•It" 

nnally  declined  movino-  in  Trplnnri         i        .         ' 

»xxij_|  HI  xieianu,  and  rpf-irprl   in^^ 

pnvaeyi„P„i.     His  military  frie^'^ds  souj    to  C 
h^^no  redeem  bis  promises  at  any  and  e^very  i^l 
ana  lailinc:  in  thm   foni^  u  i  "^  ' 

the  attempt.  '  '  "^""^  '''^""'^-  *»  '-^o 

On  the  faith  of  the  pron  'ses  of  ,  ,;=• 
veteran  otHeers  had  /one  tl  tll^  ""ot  ■  '     ' 
Ireland  and  England  at  th»   I  "™'''™*  Po^ts  in 

-t-iuj^ianu,  at  the  close  of  ISfic  nr.!  +i     t. 
ginn  ns  of  18(17     Ti,  "''  ™«  ^e- 

fo         s«i»07.     -iuese  were  now  joined  hv  ti,o     •,• 
tary  staff  of  the  ex-cbief  »n^  *T.   T      ^        "''"• 
these  men  to  strike  a  1 ,  -^^te^inatiou  of 

1  ro  stiite  a  blow  was  soon  illustrated      4 
Fenian  demonstration  at  the  English  ei  v  !f  pt    . 
on  the  11th  February,  produeed  a1  f  "*"■•    ' 

England;  but  the  intends  of  tb         T"  ^^'^ '»  ' 

wrated  by  Corydi:  c^^^  ::rrr"  T 

pay  of  the  English  a^horitie    fl-  mThe  rt^f' 

P-ious.    Within  aeoupleofdaysarelotlE         '    ' 
m  Kerry,  under  Colonel  John  /    ,;^'^''"*«'^I':plaee 


% 


arrived,  re- 
ieemed  this 
the  greatest 
course;  but 
er  of  a  cen- 
3ment  tliat 
is  extinct, 
aihire;  iie 
'tired  into 
lit  to  force , 
^erj  risk  J 
3  to  make 

imbers  of 
posts  in. 
d  the  be- 
the  mili- 
lation  of 
ited.    A 
Chester,    , 
panic  in 
sts  were 
8  in  the 
3tember 
>k  place 
tnd  the 
}  which 


mSTORlCAL    mTRODUCTIOir.  '  83 

extended  to  Cork  and  Limerick.  Military  disposi- 
tions were  speedily  effected  unde  •  one  of  the  "  In- 
dian heroes;"  but  O'Connor,  a  young  veteran  of  the 
Irish  Brigade,  out-manauvred  him,  retreated  with  his 
band  to  the  mountains,  and  completely  baifled  the 
troops.  On  the  15th,  the  Government  stated  to  Par- 
liament that  "  Colonel  Ilorsford's  force  was  altogether 
too  small  to  follow  the  armed  band  of  Fenians  into 
Toomie's  Wood." 

The  rising  in  Ireland  was  to  have  been  simultaneous, 
but  discovering  that  the  plan  for  the  capture  of  Ches-- 
ter  Castle,  and  the  troops  in  it,  had  been  betrayed ;  and 
concluding,  of  course,  that  the  Government  was  pre'- 
pared  ^vt  all  points,  the  leaders  sent  messengers  coun- 
termanding  the  revolt.     Owing  to  his  remote  position 
the  order  failed  to  reach  Colonel  O'Connor  in  time  tj 
prevent  his  action,  which  thus  had  the  appearance  of 
an  isolated  movement.     In  a  few  days  the  "  outbreak 
at  Killarney"  wan  declared  "at  an  end"  by  the  In- 
dian  hero,  who  thought,  probably,  that  he  had  ended 
it :  and  in  a  week  telegrams  everywhere  conveyed  the 
blissful  news,  "  Ireland  is  perfectly  tranquil.'*     Whilo 
the  telegraph  was  busy  making  news  of  Ireland's  tran- 
qnility,  the  authorities  were  pursuing  another  mode  of 
achieving  that  end,  and  of  contradicting  it  at  the 
Bame  time.    Ev  u; ;.  vessel  arriving  at  an  Irish  port  was 
searched  by  mta  nrmed  with  cutlasses,  and  expert  in 


'  i 

mm 

1  i 

■■ 

ii 

III 


ii 


I 


m  I 


1 

;i 

( 

'i'  ■' 

1 

p 

J 

84 


PKNIAN   nEBOIDS   AND  MAWVB8. 


tI.o  sconce  Of  physiognomy.  Any  one  looting  like  a 
l^bcl  was  instantly  seized,  pinioned,  and  thrown  into 
pnson  A  conple  of  days'  work  will  illustrate  how 
tranqud  the  Government  believed  Ireland  to  bo. 

The  tranquility,  however,  did  not  last  long,  even  on 
.   paper.     "Ireland  again  in  rebellion"  was  the  startling 
i^ews  whieh  iu  detail  explained  how  a  si.nultauoous  re-  ' 
volt  had  taken  place  in  various  parts  of  the  island  on 
tlie     th    of  March.     The   previous    announcements    ' 
gave  the  mtelligence  a  thrilling  effect,  and  the  public 
mnd  was  wrought  to  a  state  of  bewildering  fermenta- 
t.on  by  the  confirmation  of  reports  showing  that  an 
evHlently  well-designed  plan  of  insurrection  had  de, 
veloped  Itself  in  throe  provinces  of  the  kingdom.    The 
leader,  controlling  the  n,ovement  promulgated  this 
proclamation  simultaneously  i„  Ireland  and  America, 

PROCLAMATION 

tlio  Irish  farmer  to  the  Iri,h  „J  f  '""■<■'"'"=■■;  our  lands  pass  tnm 
owners  Of  ^.^^.^Z^Z^Z^X:^  IfZ 


ng  like  a 
Jwii  into 
ute  liow 
be. 

5ed  aboard 
tor.  Next 
'id  hy  the 
oon  twen- 
5  roll,  and 
nd  iu  tliQ 

3vcn  on 
tartliiig 
3ousre-  ' 
and  on 
ements    ' 
public 
menta- 
bat  an 
ad  de- 
.    Tlie 
d  tbia 
erica : 


ts,  our 
3  fi'oni 
ightful 
o  sup. 


ITT8TORT0AL  TNTRODmiTTOW.  85 

ply  tlie  markets  of  England ;  after  having  seen  our  skilled  work- 
men  driven  into  exile,  our  men  of  thought  and  action  to  imprison- 
HKM,t  and  the  scanbld  ;  having  no  longer  either  lands  to  cultivate, 
laws  or  acknowh-dgcd  rights  to  invoke  5  in  a  word,  having  nothing 

^afl^"rJ?r"'  "'"''"  "'"  '"'"'^^  "^  «"^^""fe'  "^  the  determina: 
nation  to  fight,  wo  cheerfully  choose  this  last  resort. 

All  men  have  a  right  to  liberty  and  happiness.  Believing  that 
there  can  be  no  durable  liberty  or  happiness  except  upon  the  bal 
hiSttV"'  ""' "r'"  ""  ''  ""^-elaborwhen'themlstf 
80  I   and  that  the  Irish  soil,  instead  of  being  in  the  hands  of  il,n 

Boilby  Lcl       '"  ^^^*^™'-^--  *°  -1«  ourselves  of^'that 

Considering  that  all  men  are  born  with  equal  natural  rights,  and 
l.at  by  assoemting  themselves  together  to  protect  one  anfthe  and 
hare  pubhc  burdens,  justice  demands  that  such  association  luld 

cicstioymg  ,t-we  declare  that  we  aim  at  founding  a  Republic 
based  upon  universal  sutfrage.  securing  to  all  the  intLic  vXe  of 

We  declare  that  we  wish  absolute  liberty  of  conscience  and  th« 
complete  separation  of  Church  and  State  '  ^ 

Oalor'beinff/T"''  ""'■'  '' ^"'  '^  «  Progressive  capitatiou  " 
^lanor  bemg  tree  from  any  impost.) 

Calling  upon  God  and  mankind  to  witness  the  justice  of  our 

ti^M  t  'T'r  ^'  ^"  '""^''^''^  -^  ''^'-'^^^  ^-  "^ 

"hrt  ianT  ."^^^^^^^  '^  recon,acring  the  inalienable 

ri  hts  that  all  men  receive  at  their  birth,  we  take  up  arms  to  com- 

^ised  upon  Its  property,  we  will  employ  to  destroy  it  every  means 

torn  down    if  ftf  f,™''  ""^'  ^"^'^'^^  ^'^^^'^y  it  «^-"  be 

tor    down,  If  It  be  possible,  without  fear  or  truce ;  and  we  swear 

11    «acred  name  of  our  country,  by  the  suffering    of  tho  e  wh^ 

MOW  endure  the  tortures  of  living  tombs  for  the  cause    hwi     T 

and  revered  .ames  of  those  w  Jhave  died  ^^^  thr?:;ed^^'oV|j: 


86 


If  i 


Hi 


m 


mm  m 


FEmAN  HEE0E8  AND  MARTYKS. 


land,  by  our  honor  and  that  of  our  children  that  this  war  shall 
cease  only  when  the  Irish  Republic  sl,all  be  recognized,  or  wh  u 
the  last  man  of  our  race  sliall  lie  in  his  grave 

Kepublicans  of  the  entire  world,  our  cause  is  yours  1  Our  en- 
emy is  your  ..emy.  Let  your  hearts  be  with  L  As  for  you 
^^rkmen  of  England,  it  is  not  only  your  hearts  that  we  wish  Z 
your  arms  Remember  the  starvation  and  degradation  brought  to 
your  fln.Kles  by  oppressed  labor.  Remember  the  past,  look  well 
to  the  future,  and  avenge  yourselves  by  giving  liberty  to  your  ' 
children  m  the  coming  struggle  for  human  freedoi  1 
Herewith  we  pi;oclaim  the  Irish  Reiuiblic  I 


(Signed) 


TnK  Ikish  J'eople, 


THE  IRISH  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT. 

The  first  report  of  the  msurrection  was  made  by  the 
attack  on  tlie  barracks  in  Droglieda.     The  next  was 
from   Castle-Martyr,  in   Cork,  distant  two   hundred  • 
miles ;  and  these  were  rapidly  followed  up  by  armed 
displays  and  conflicts  with  the  Government  forces  in 
the  counties  of  Dublin,  Limerick,  Down,  Clare,  Wick- 
low,  Waterford,  Kildare,  Kilkenny,  Queen's  County,  ' 
and  Tipperary.     The  wildest  rumors  ac^itated  society!    ■ 
Kothing  was  talked  of  but  attacks  on  barracks,  con- 
flicts  with  the  military,  midnight  manceuvres,  railroads 
broken  up,  telegraph  wires  torn  down,  Fenian  arrests 
and  "  Greek  fire."    Fenianism  in  the  army  had  created 
jealousies  and  bickerings,  which  found  an  occasional 
outlet  in  the  form  of  a  riot :  and  some  of  the  soldiers 
who  fell  in  the  open  conflicts  with  the  Fenians,  were" 


HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION. 


87 


not  all  l)ronglit  to  tlie  dust,  it  would  seem,  by  the  peas- 
ant jackets.* 

Of  the  several  "disturbances"  which  occurred,  both 
in  England  and  Ireland,  among  the  soldiers,  one  is  es- 
pecially noteworthy— it  being  a  "  serious  fight "  which 
took  place  at  Ballincollig  Barracks,  near  Cork,  "  among 
the  British  soldiers  stationed  there  to  protect  the  ex- 
tensive artillery  depot  and  government  powder-mills. 
The  cause  of  the  outbreak  was  of  course  Fenianism." 
The  Irish  soldiers,  assisted  by  some  companies  of  a 
Scotch  regiment,  attacked  the  English  lancer  regiment, 
which  had  disgraced  itself  bf  acts  of  brutality  in  Dun- 
garvan,  and  "the  result  was  that  several  lives  were 

♦  The  following  remarkable  letter  was  printed  in  the  London  Morning  Post  • 
f  hi'  ^^'~^  --f  print  of  a  letter  which  appeared  in  your  journal  a  few  days  a-^o  on 
the  above  subject,  has  Just  come  under  my  notice,  having  been  copfed  In  o  a 
DuWin  newspaper.  In  reply,  I  would  bog  your  permission  to  make  a  few  re- 
marks through  the  medium  of  your  aristocratic,  though  apparently  imnartia^ 
journal.  The  writer  of  the  letter  in  question  seems  to  have  reac  a  ouerded  aS 
consequently  false,  account  of  the  rising  of  the  Brotherhood  in  dScfof  Cr 

ieenlCr  ""^''-  ?'''''''  "'  *^^  interesting  Fenian  Brotherhood  have 
been  shot  down  m  armed  rebellion  against  their  Sovereign.  *  *  •  i  hone 
he  (Lord  Strathnairn)  will  shoot  many  more,  and  hang  and  flog  the  remainder' 
Allow  me  to  inform  the  writer  that  for  every  one  of  our  Brotherhood^hot  sis 
jnen  of  the  British  soldiers  have  fallen.  Many  of  these,  I  Sow  wl  'hot  by 
their  own  comrades  in  skirmish-not  accidentally,  but  because^f  Their  perfidy 
towards  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  their  avowed  determination  to  show  the  Fe! 
Jians  'no  quarter.'  In  a  skirmish,  in  which  I  had  temporary  command  I  saw 
^o  f  wer  than  s,x  of  the  6th  Carbineers  unhorsed  by  oni  volley  from  o™^ 
These  were  taken  away  in  wagons,  and  nobody  has  since  heard  of  them  I  could 
c.te  many  mstances  of  a  similar  kind,  if  it  were  necessary.  Thefact"s  sir  he 
BntLsh  Government  is  most  careful  in  keeping  all  these  matters  secret  fo;  o^  " 
v.ous  reasons;  but  should  you  publish  this  ktter,  the  IrSX  e  o/'^    'c>"^ 

facts  o  tlie  case,  will  fully  corroborate  my  statements.    I  am  sir  yoTr  obedient 
aervant,  A  SKKaEA.x-M..oR  o.  xhb  19xa  R.ax„Kxx,  Ur.X^^^uo  llT^'' 


In 


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m 


88 


FENLUf  HEROEe  AND  MAETVkS. 


luBt.  All  possiblo  olTorts  were  made  to  keep  this  se- 
cret;  but  it  leaked  out  nevcrtheleBs,  and  next  day. 
winle  the  Scotch  companu.,  were  marching  throud. 
the  eity  of  Cork,  they  were  loudly  cheered  by  the  peo- 
ple. Th«  ovation,  says  the  account,  was  received  by 
the  Scotchmen  with  very  evident  pleasure. 

The  infamous  Corydon  put  the  authorities  on  the 
track  of  Godfrey  Massey,  a  sort  of  adjutant-general  to 
Colonel  Thomas  J.  Kelly,  who  had  diree  !o„  of  affairs 
in  Amenca  after  the  retirement  of  Stephens.    Massey 
was  arrested  on  the  night  of  the  4th  March,  at  Limer- 
ick junction,  swooned,  woke  up  in  the  Castle,  and  un- 
dcr  the  influences  of  a  vindictive,  cowardly  nature,  and 
his  Wife,  betrayed  the  cause.    Tlie  Government,  in  pos- 
session of  sufficient  information  to  shorten  the  life  of 
the  msurrection,  lost  no  time  in  putting  forth  its  every 
appliance  for  its  suppression.     The  history  of  the  Fe- 
man  revolt  of  '67,  cannot  now  be  detailed;  but  the 
world  has  already  acknowledged  the  courage,  dignity 
and  devotion  brought  to  its  service  by  such  heroio  ' 
Bpints  as  Peter  O'Keill   Crowley,  Thomas  FranciB 
Bourke,  and  their  comrades-some  dead,  like  the  for- 
me^  and  others,  like  the  latter,  reprieved  from  the 
Bcaifold  to  suffer  a  living  death  in  perpetual  imprJs- 
onment.  * 

^  The  Irish  party  in  America  labored  eamestty,  im- 
tirmgly,  and  to  a  comparative  degree,  effectivelj^,  to    • 


HTSTORICAL   INTRODUOTTON'. 


89 


Biistain  the  patriots  in  Ireland.      The  history  of  the 
i>iotfierhood  in  America,  if  ever  written,  will  disclose 
as  noble  labors  aii.1  sacrifices,  made  by  men  in  so-called 
"humble  life,"  to  ];     ,    the   organization  in  healthy 
existence,  as  ever  refreshed  the  hopes  of  a  struggling 
people.     Imm  -  diately  after  the  rising  in  Kerry,  a  Na- 
tioiial  Convention  (the  fifth)  was  called,  and  assembled 
in  I^ew  York  on  the  27th  February.     Affairs  were  in 
a  great  state  of  disarrangement,  consequent  on  the  feel- 
ings produced  by  Mr.  J^-^phens'  action.     These  were 
adjusted,  Mr.  Anthony  A.  Griffin  was  elected  Execu- 
tive, and  measures  taken  to  carry  out  a  beneficial  plan 
of  operations  in  aid  of  Irisli  Freedom.     These  were  at 
once  inaugurated,  and  the  cable-  intelligence  of  the 
simtiltaneous  risings  of  the  5th  March  already  found 
the  Directory  at  work.     On  the  10th,  an  appeal  was 
issued  by  the  Executive  imploring  harmony  among  all 
parties,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  England  was  willing 
to  spend  millions  of  money  and  sacrifice  thousands  of 
lives  to  subjugate  or  extirpate  our  race. 

A  great  open-air  mass  meeting  was  held  on  the  even- 
ing  of  March  13th,  in  Union  Square,  which,  notwith. 
etandmg  the  extreme  inclemency  of  the  weather^ 
a  chill  rain  constantly  falling-was  attended  by  over 
ffteen  thousand  persons,  who  were  nddressed  from 
tm-ee  stands.  Among  the  letters  of  sympathy  receiv- 
ed, was  one.  from  the  Honorable  the  Mayor  of  the  cit/ 


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90 


FENIAN   HEE0E8   AND  MAETYRS. 


of  T^evv  York,  wrliicli  has  more  than  temporary  inter- 
est.    It  reads  as  follows : 


!    II 


Gentlkmen  :  I  have  received  this  day  your  invitation  to  attend 
a  mass  meeting  to  aid  the  Irish  Revolutionists,  now  battling  for  lib- 
erty, to  be  held  at  Union  Square,  on  to-morrow  evening,  at  half- 
past  seven  o'clock. 

I  am  aware  that  it  is  somewhat  the  custom  of  public  men  to  ap- 
proach the  Fenian  movement  with  a  delicate  regard  for  our  neu- 
trality obligations,  and  of  the  duties  enjoined  by  the  laws  of  nations. 
Apart  from  my  sympathy  for  the  cause  cf  Ireland,  I  may  be  par- 
doned if  I  do  not  iadlvidually  entertain  any  high  estimate  of  Great 
Britam's  claims  on  us  to  keep  peace  within  her  dominions.  When 
we  were  struggling  for  national  existence,  and  the  cause  of  Repub- 
lican Government  was  on  its  great,  perhaps,  final  trial,  England 
gave  aid  and  comfort,  the  violation  of  every  principle  of  neutrality, 
on  the  side  which  it  believed  would  work  the  destruction  of  our  free 
institutions.  Her  people  gave  sympathy,  money,  ships  and  men, 
and  munitions  of  war,  to  be  used  against  us. 

I  do  not  counsel,  nor  will  I  countenance,  any  violation  of  the 
laws  of  our  country ;  but  I  do  not  stand  alone  in  the  community 
in  feeling  no  very  keen  sense  of  our  natioual  obligation  to  England, 
and  an  indisposition  to  go  out  of  my  way  to  seek  safeguards  for  her 
protection. 

At  all  events,  I  feel  no  restraint  in  expressing,  as  an  American 
citizen,  my  most  ardent  sympathy  in  the  struggle  which  is  now 
taking  place  in  Ireland,  and  my  hope  in  its  ultimate  success. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  the  Republic,  our  Government  did  not 
stand  on  ceremony  in  expressing  its  sentiments  in  behalf  of  strug- 
gling nations  emerging  into  freedom.  More  than  forty  years  ago, 
when  Greece  was  battling  agamst  the  domination  of  the  Turk,  Presi- 
dent Monroe  did  not  hesitate  to  make  their  cause  a  subject  of  a  mes- 
sage to  Congress,  and  to  express  the  '*  strong  hope  long  entertain- 
ed, founded  on  the  heroic  struggle  of  the  Greeks,  that  they  would 
succeed  in  the  contest,  and  reassume  their  equal  station  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth ;"  and  later,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 


HISTORICAL  rNTEODFCTIOK.  01 

did  not  hesitate  to  express  its  sympathy  for  the  fallen  fortunes  of 
the  Revolutionists  of  Hungary,  and  to  tender  an  asylum  in  this 
country  to  Kossuth  and  his  gallant  followers. 

Should  we  hesitate  to  send  words  of  cheer'and  encouragement, 
and  more  substantial  aid  to  the  men  who  are  now  fighting  for  the 
redemption  of  their  native  land,  because  the  land  is  not  Hungaiy. 
or  Poland,  or  Greece,  but  Ireland,  and  the  oppressor  is  not  Austria, 
Russia  or  Turkey,  buf  England  ? 

To  my  mind,  the  ultimate  success  of  the  people  of  Ireland  in  es- 
tabhshmg  then-  righis  is  a  certainty.  It  is  impossible  that  a  nation 
of  men  of  courage  and  capacity,  firmly  united  in  the  determinatiou 
to  be  free,  can  long  be  held  in  the  chains  of  servile  subjection.  Ire- 
land  demands  the  restitution  of  its  ancient  right  of  self-government ; 
that  It  shall  no  longer  be  under  the  yoke  of  a  power  alien  m  reli- 
gion,  m  feeling,  in  interests ;  it  demands  freedom,  equality,  and  the 
rights  which  belong  to  manhood. 

If  our  Government  proves  anything,  it  proves  that  these  demands 
are  just  and  right,  and  cur  history  certainly  indicates  the  validity 
of  revolution.  But  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  revolutions 
which  do  not  turn  backward  are  successful  revolutions.  Unsuc- 
cessful revolutions  rivet  the  chains  of  despotism,  and  give  a  longer 
day  to  the  oppressor.  I  know  not  what  may  be  the  moans  of  the 
men  m  Ireland,  or  whether  this  is  the  fitting  opportunity  to  strike 
the  blow.  To  give  the  onward  word  of  command  in  such  a  cil«i3 
of  destiny  to  a  people,  involves  the  gravest  responsibility. 

Let  us  hope  that  they  who  are  charged  with  the  responsibility 
have  acted  wisely  and  well,  and  unite  in  earnest  praver  for  an  early 
successful  and  happy  solution  of  the  troubles  of  a  long-suffermff 
people.  * 

Regi-etting  that  the  brief  time  aUotted  prevents  a  more  elaborate 
reply,  I  am,  very  respectfully,  John  T.  Hoffman. 

The  resolutions  adopted  were  of  a  clear  and  forcible 
character,  pledging  aid  to  the  patriots,  declaring  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  all  lovers  of  free  institutions  to  sustain 
those  who  strive  to  extend  the  blessings  of  self-govern- 


W¥ 


■0: 


'  i   ', 


:  ! 


92 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MAETTES. 


ment  to  the  natives  of  every  land ;  and  concluding  by 
most  earnestly  calling  "  upon  every  section  and  class 
of  our  Irish -born  fellow-citizens,  to  lay  aside  all  parti- 
san strife  and  personal  animosities  at  this  momentous 
crisis  of  their  country's  fate,  and  to  unite  together,  and 
rally  as  one  man  to  the  support  of  their  brave  country- 
men, now  battling  for  their  National  Independence." 
Negotiations  were  undertaken  to  effect  a  union  with 
the  leaders  of  the  Canadian  party  at  this  time,  but 
without  success ;  and  the  Irish  party  bent  itself  with 
redoubled  zeal  and  energy  to  attract  public  sympathy 
and  aid  to  the  noble  cause  it  represented.  The  sub- 
ject of  Irish  liberty  having  been  brought  to  the  at- 
tention of  the  United  States  Congress,  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  of  the  House  of 
Kepresentatives,  presented  a  resolution  on  the  27th 
of  March,  which  though  not  as  bold  and  broad  as  the 
services  of  the  Irish,  and  the  baseness  of  England  to 
this  republic  during  the  war  would  warrant,  is  never- 
theless of  historical  import,  as  putting  on  record  a  fact 
to  which  England  will  not  lovingly  refer.  The  reso- 
lution, moreover,  received  sufficient  opposition  to  more 
emphatically  distinguish  the  remarkable  unanimity  by 
which  it  was  adopted.  The  interesting  proceedings 
are  thus  condensed : 

Mr.  Banks. — I  am  instructed  by  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Af- 
fairs to  report  the  following  resolution : 


\ 


mSTOETCAL  INTRODrcnOIT. 


93 


» 


3 


Hrftolved,  That  this  House  extend  its  sympathy  to  the  people 
of  Ireland  and  of  Candia  in  all  their  just  efforts  to  maintain  the 
independence  of  States,  to  elevate  the  people,  and  to  extend  and 
perpetuate  the  principles  of  liherty. 

Mr.  Banks.— I  yield  to  the  gentleman  from  New  York  (Mr. 
Robinson). 

Mr.  Robinson.— T  do  not  intend  at  this  time  to  make  any  lengthy 
remarks,  and  yet  I  desire  to  make  some  observations  rather  than 
let  this  resolution  pass  in  silence.  I  presume  I  may  say,  without 
any  disrespect  to  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  or  to  the  other 
members  of  the  commHtee,  or  without  referring  to  anything  that 
may  have  occun-ed  in  the  committee,  that  I  should  have  preferred 
a  much  more  decided  expression  of  sympathy  than  this.  But  such 
as  it  is,  I  trust  it  will  pass  as  the  beginning  of  good  thmgs.  Be- 
fore this  Congress  expires  I  hope  to  have  the  privilege  of  mtro- 
ducing  a  resolution  not  only  of  sympathy,  but  acknowledgmg 
the  belligerent  rights  and  independence  of  Ireland.  I  throw  this 
out  in  no  spirit  of  bravado.  I  bel'-  e  the  independence  of  Ireland 
will  come.  I  believe  that  the  train  of  circ  ^  stances  now  in  ope- 
ration will  bring  about  that  result. 

"Truth  crashed  to  earth  shall  rise  again." 

Nor  can  England  take  any  exception  to  our  interfering  in  this 
matter.  She  has  no  more  business  with  Ireland  than  we  have- 
She  has  no  right,  title  or  claim  whatever  in  that  country  except 
that  which  had  its  origin  in  fraud  and  force.  She  took  possession 
of  Ireland  by  force  and  fraud,  and  she  has  made  that  country 
through  seven  centuries  of  oppression  a  howlmg  wilderness.  She 
has  inflicted  wrongs  upon  that  people  which  no  other  nation  under 
the  sun  has  suffered  from  another.  In  conversation  with  the  Chap- 
lain of  the  House  to-day  reference  was  made  to  the  parable  of  tho 
good  Samaritan.  Sir,  I  maintam  that  we  have  the  same  authority 
to  interfere  that  the  good  Samaritan  had,  when  he  saw  a  stranger 
by  the  wayside,  who  had  fallen  among  thieves,  and  lay  beaten  and 
bruised.  There  is  hardly  a  government  in  Europe  that  does  not 
interfere  with  the  affairs  of  other  countries.  Emperors  and  kings 
are  all  the  time  making  new  maps  of  Europe,  and  runnmg  new 


1!  ,.! 


i  » 


94 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


boundaries  of  kingdoms  and  empires.  I  may  bo  asked  what  aro 
Ireland's  chances  of  success  ?  Iler  chances  for  success  are  greater 
than  any  other  people  ever  had  who  have  achieved  their  independ- 
ence. They  are  all  rebels  in  Ireland.  There  is  not  to-duy  an 
honest  Irishman  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  who  is  not  a  rebel 
against  Britisli  rule  in  Ireland. 

The  sympathies  of  all  the  world  are  with  Ireland,  while  England 
has  the  sympathy  of  no  human  being  except  its  office-holders  and 
garrisons.  It  is  something  to  have  the  sympathy  of  mankind  with 
you  against  your  oppressors.  Now,  we  are  told  that  Ireland  can- 
not govern  herself.  That  statement  is  not  true ;  Ireland  can  gov- 
ern herself.  Irish  intellect  to-day  governs  the  world ;  Irish  intel- 
lect is  good  enough  to  govern  England.  Even  the  poorer  sort  of 
Irishmen,  like  the  late  Duke  of  Wellington,  proves  good  enough 
for  that  business.  Irish  intellect  to-day  is  uppennost  in  all  the 
transactions  of  England.  She  rules  in  her  Parliament ;  she  directs 
her  press ;  she  commands  her  armies ;  she  fights  her  battles.  Why 
may  she  not  do  so  herself?  Ireland  to-day  has  more  disciplined 
men  than  any  nation  in  the  world,  men  who  have  learned  the  use 
of  arms,  who  have  smelled  gunpowder ;  they  are  all  over  the  world, 
in  eveiy  clime,  in  every  land.  Irish  valor  has  bloomed  into  glory 
upon  every  btittle-tield  of  this  and  other  countries.  In  these  United 
States,  upon  this  very  floor,  may  be  found  Irishmen  of  the  second 
generation,  whose  deeds  I  need  not  recount,  as  they  arf  on  every- 
body's lips,  and  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  this  country.  Look 
through  the  history  of  the  late  war,  and  see  how  many  of  the  gen- 
erals, and,  above  all,  oi  the  private  soldiers,  were  Irish  by  bu'th  or 
blood. 

To-day  Ireland  can  raise  the  strongest  army  the  world  t  /er  saw. 
Her  sons  have  been  disciplined  in  the  British  army,  in  the  army  of 
this  countiy,  and  of  every  country  in  the  world.  She  has  more 
men  now  scattered  throughout  the  world  ready  to  come  to  her  assist- 
ance than  would,  under  equal  advantages,  conquer  twenty  Eng- 
lands  if  they  stood  in  her  way.  I  know  the  gi-eat  difficulty  is  in 
gaining  the  first  success.  But  other  ceuntries  have  achieved  their 
independence  without  the  strength  that  is  behind  this  movement, 
and  some  time,  in  God's  own  time,  Ireland  will  be  able  to  take  that 


!l!l  ill 


mmmm 


m 


T 


BI8T0RICAL    INTRODtTCTIOJf. 


05 


first  step  in  her  forward  movement,  and  then  there  will  be  no  hold- 
ing her  back.     Ihe  Ih-st  step  gained  eveiything  else  is  easy. 

It'  there  were  no  other  reason  for  our  interlerence  in  behalf  of 
Ireland,  we  have  it  in  the  fact  that  to-day  no  American  citizen  ia 
safe  upon  the  soil  of  Great  Britain  or  in  Ireland.  Instead  of  the 
name  of  an  American  citizen  being,  as  it  should  be,  a  badge  of 
honor,  a  guarantee  of  personal  security,  it  is,  in  Great  Britain  to- 
day, treated  with  more  indignity  than  that  of  the  citizen  or  subject 
of  any  other  country.  Two  or  three  days  ago,  I  received  the  infor- 
mation from  an  American  citizen,  in  Liverpool,  that,  without  any 
evidence  to  justify  even  a  suspicion  that  he  was  implicated  in  any 
crime  against  the  Government  of  Great  Britain,  he  was  arrested 
and  dragged  to  jail,  where,  without  even  the  form  of  trial,  he  was 
stripped  of  his  citizen's  clothes,  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a  convict,  and 
set  to  work  to  scrub  the  tioors  of  the  prison.  If  this  is  the  treat- 
ment received  by  American  citizens  from  the  present  Government 
of  Ireland,  may  we  not  be  pardoned  for  sympathizing  with  a  move- 
ment which  promises  better  treatment  to  our  citizens  under  better 
rulers. 

Mr.  Banks.— Mr.  Speaker,  I  now  yield  to  the  gentleman  from 
Missouri  (Mr.  Pile)  three  minutes. 

Mr.  Pii.K  here  ollered  some  verbal  changes. 

Mr.  Banks.— Mr.  Speaker,  it  is  the  principle  of  monarchical  gov- 
ernments that  once  being  States  their  continued  existence  as  such 
must  be  recognized.  That  is  the  universal  principle  on  which  such 
governments  are  administered.  We  claim  the  same  for  republican 
government3.  Ireland  had  once  a  government  of  her  own.  That 
government  has  been  displaced  by  the  English  Government.  If 
they  are  contending  against  the  English  rule,  they  are  contending 
to  maintain  the  principle  of  the  independence  of  States,  and  thereby 
I  cannot  accept  tlie  modification  proposed  by  the  gentleman. 

Mr.  Wasubuhn,  of  Wisconsin.- 1  move  the  following  amend- 
ment : 

liesolved  further,  That  in  sympathizing  with  the  people  of  Ire- 
land, we  deem  it  proper  to  declare  that  tlic  picsent  Fenian  move- 
ment must  prove  entirely  abortive  in  bringing  relief  to  that  coun- 
try, and  that  any  encouragement  to  that  movement  by  resolution. 


06 


FENIAN  HEROES  Am)   MARTTE8. 


unaccompnnied  by  force,  can  only  result  in  involvinj?  the  brave, 
enthusiastic,  and  patriotic  Irishmen  in  dilBculties  from  which  their 
brethren  are  powerless  to  extricate  them. 

Mr.  Banks.  — I  hope  that  amendment  will  not  be  adopted.  I  de- 
mand the  previous  question. 

The  previous  question  was  seconded,  and  the  main  question  or- 
dered. 

Mr.  Banks. — I  am  entitled  to  an  hour  to  close  the  debate.  In 
reference  to  the  amendment,  I  have  only  to  say  this  :  it  was  con- 
sidered in  committee,  and  it  was  not  deemed  advisable  to  present 
it  to  the  House. 

Mr.  Wood. — Mr.  Speaker,  the  amendment  is  virtually  a  nullifi- 
cation of  the  resolution  itself.  The  countiy  well  knows  as  the 
House  knows  that  the  present  agitation  in  Ireland  looks  to  the  es- 
tablishment of  free  government  in  that  island,  as  the  result  of  this 
same  Fenian  movement.  "We  all  know  it  is  this  Fenian  move- 
ment that  has  elFected  military  organization  in  Ireland,  and  that 
every  rebel  in  arms  in  Ireland,  and  all  the  preparatory  arrange- 
ments looking  to  the  establishment  of  an  independent  govern- 
ment in  Ireland,  have  been  promoted,  if  not  originally  prompted, 
by  this  Fenian  movement.  It  may  be  true  that  it  will  cost  lives, 
aye  of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  men  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
Fenian  movement.  All  revolutions  cost  blood  before  they  become 
successful.  In  our  own  revolutionary  war  oceans  of  blood  were 
spilled  before  we  were  able  to  establish  our  independence  of  the 
mother  country.  Therefore,  when  we  say  by  this  resolution  w» 
sympathize  with  the  people  of  Ireland,  in  their  present  straggle, 
we  say  well  and  properly,  but  when  we  succeed  it  by  saying  that 
we  are  against  the  Fenian  movement,  we  nullify  the  resolution  re- 
ported from  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affau's.  I  call  for  the  yeas 
and  nays  on  the  amendment, 

Mr.  Eldkidge. — I  ask  the  gentlemar  to  yield  to  me  for  a  mo- 
ment ? 

Mr  Banks. — Certainly,  sir. 

Mr.  Eldeidge,  — I  hope  the  amendment  submitted  to  the  resolu- 
tion reported  from  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs,  will  not  bo 
adopted.    I  look  upon  it,  as  does  the  gentlemen  from  New  York, 


■■■^  jgg^^^^y^^^^^^ 


BISTOMOAL  INlTRODTJcnoN. 


97 

peo  le  o^^^^^^^^  ^'T  ''''''''''  -->^  ^--"re  which  the 

eiT  o  t!ll  n  f'/'''  '^'''  '^"^'^i'^tion.     It  is  worse  th»m  mock- 

Se  wUh  M '""  '"  ";"'  degradation  and  suffering  that  ^e  sZl 

The  yeas  and  nays  were  ordered 
^eas  lu,  nays  102;  not  voting,  62.* 
*  The  following  is  tlie  vote: 

Bon,  Donnelly,    Driggs    Sef  S In    p'n  m       i.^""""' ^''™""' ^"»°™' i>«ni' 
GlossbrennerrGraveT'Swol'dtiSf'^f'f  ■■"'''  ^^^^y-  ^'^>^«'  ««*-. 
Hopkins,  Anahel  W.l  bba  d  c  1  or  n  n^^'f^  ''"''  *^«''"'^°'  Hooper 
ter,  Ingersoll,  Judd,  Kerr    K;tcC  Stch^n    K  '  'T^''^  """P^'-'^^'  Hun! 
rence,  Lincoln,  Loan    Logan    MaZ;vM.,,L°"''''  ^'""•'  ^""«°>  I^^w- 
Mercur,  Miller  Moore  mSscTm  ,n         m^'  ^"'■'^"'  ^^^""-"'y'  ^^Clurg, 
Orth,  Perham    Pile    pL       P?,;i'!rS  T'"'  ^ewcomb,  Niblack,  O'Nei! 
Solye,  Shanks  Sitgreaves  JmUh    sf^w^.  r  ?"'  ^"'""'°"'  ^°"^'  ^chenck 
Twitchell,  Up8on,1?n  Auke;    Burt  vln  l'''''^  Jf'^  ^'^^^''^  Trowbridge 
Trump,  Ward  Ile^ry  D  WasSxrn  Johl  T  wT'  ^f""'  ''•  ^'^  Horn,  v;n 
aud  Woodbridge-103.      "^*"'''"'°'  '^°*^°  T.  Wilson,  Stephen  F.  Wilson,  Wood 

5 


g^Sjgg 


) 


iliii 


OS 


fENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS, 


So  the  amendment  was  rejected. 

The  question  recurred  on  agreeing  to  the  resolution,  and  it  was 
adopted.  ' 

As  these  pages  are  going  througli  the  press  somo 
documents  of  peculiar  interest  reach  us ;  one  is  a  de- 
bate in  the  House  of  Commons  on  the  state  of  Ire- 
land ;  another  is  a  speech  made  by  John  Bright,  in 
Birmingham,  and  a  third  is  the  Queen's  speech,  read 
by  commission,  on  the  proroguing  of  the  Imperial  Par- 
liament on  the  21st  of  August.     Every  one  read  tho 
Queen's  speech  which  came  by  cable.     Very  few  read 
the  other  documents  which  came  by  mail.     As  the 
two  latter  very  flatly  and  authoritatively  contradict 
the  former,  and  moreover,  throw  great  illumination 
on  the  speech  from  the  throne,  I  shall  have  to  place 
them   in  juxtaposition  for   the  benefit  of  American 
readers  especially  for  Americans  who  are  in  the  dark 
on  the  subject  of  Ireland,  and  who  chiefly  seek  to  be 
enlightened  from  such  sources  as  republications  from 
the  "  leading  English  journal."     In  announcing  that 
"  the  treasonable  conspiracy  in  Ireland  has  proved  fu- 
tile," the  Queen  compliments  the  valor  of  the  troops, 
the  activity  of  the  police,  and  "  the  general  loyalty  of 
the  people."     The  general  loyalty  of  the  Irish  people 
is  a  sentiment  of  similar  import  to  the  announcement 
60  constantly  made  that  "  Ireland  is  tranquil,"  or  "  im- 
proving," or  "  happy  and  contented." 

The  debate  on  the  Irish  question  elicited  a  variety 


« 

HI8T0EI0AL  INTRODrCTION.  09 

of  op!„i„n,  and  facts  discussing  tl.o  land,  the  cln- 
cat,„naUnd  the  church  questions  as  relati.ig  to  L-e- 

and.  _  None  of  the  speeches  were  intended  to  present 
a  Jeman  aspect,  but  all  more  or  less  were  based  upon 

he  facts  of  which  Fenianism  is  the  honest  and  fear- 

i"/Trt  '""  ''"'  ^P^°*  "'  «•«  o^-'-on  was 
^^0  by  Mr.  Monsell,  an  Irish  landlord  and  a  loyalist ; 
but  one  who,  upon  the  word  of  Father  Lavolle,  is  "  J 
deep  th„,ker,  a  man  of  great  uniform  action  and 
pnncely  fortune."  His  position  adds  immeasurably 
to  the  force  of  his  words,  which,  coming  from  any 
honest  man  irrefutable  as  they  are,  should  meet  the 
attention  of  every  American  thinker  and  publicist : 

Pariiamen,.^   Their  e™  1^7,  ""^  ""'"'™"  '»  ""^  '"=«°"  "' 

^oo„ew„„ldd™v  ba   ifr™  ''"'™"'  """"S  the  lower  d«es 
I  do  not  refer  to  "*,'rplr  ""  T"  '"«^''"  '-  *"  '"«™'  "'^'^e. 

."i.y  to  Great  BX^Mr-r'X":t;t°' "' °""^  ^ 

.^rinih^rr  °  f  -  --fZet'^^h^-^' 

i..  large  to,™  arc  „'     ,       '  "      ™"^ '"'  ""^  ™'^''='-  *"Pkeepe« 
paperThlrrwaM  for  wm  -'^  "'"  "'    '^'°' "  ""  """ 

Which  is  f„i,  o"tmmZd  .^Lr ;; "'""' '  ^"^  ^™'"'«''- 

a  Picture,  .ou  tina  the%rr:^  i^orreS  X: 


If! 


100 


PENIAN  IIBR0E9  AND  MARTYRft 


-fit    'II 


mands  for  frames  for  General  Bourko's  portrait.  You  8(!o  i)laearclft 
^n  tlie  streets  of  the  largo  Irish  towns  advcrtiMlng  *  Voices  from  the 
Dock,'  in  other  wordn,  pamphlets  containing  spiu'clies  delivered  by 
the  Fenian  prisoners  at  their  trials.  Only  the  other  day,  at  Dungar- 
van,  many  of  the  respectable  peoi)lo  showed  the  direction  of  tlieir 
sympathies,  by  providing  champagne  and  every  delicacy  of  the  wa- 
sou  for  some  American  Fenians  arrested  there.  At  Waterford,  not 
jong  ago,  the  mass  of  the  people  in  one  part  of  the  town  hurried  out 
at  short  notice,  to  rescue  some  Fenian  prisoners  who  were  marching 
through  the  town  (hoar,  hear).  Tliese  were  the  sort  of  things 
■which  were  taking  place  ev(jry  day  in  the  South  of  Ireland,  and 
■which  demanded  the  most  serious  consideration  of  this  house  and 
of  the  Governnvent.  Has  any  cabinet  ever  devoted  to  that  consid- 
eration one-tenth  part  of  the  time  it  bestowed  upon  the  compound 
house-holder?  Is  any  venflcation  of  the  truth  of  my  debcription 
asked  for  ?    Look  across  the  ocean — 

'  CcRhim  nor.  antmam  mutant  qu!  ' 

Trans  mare  currunt.' 

Does  not  eveiy  Irishman  who  lands  in  America  at  once  become  W 
Fenian  ?  Does  the  voyage  change  his  opinions  ?  Is  it  not  manifest 
that  there  he  only  professes  openly  the  political  creed  he  may 
have  concealed  at  home.  Here,  then,  is  the  result  of  six  hundred 
years  connection  between  England  and  Ireland — mlHtary  occupa- 
tion— suspended  liberties — universal  discontent,  and  a  new  Irish 
nation  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  recast  in  the  mould  of  de- 
mocracy, and  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  strike  a  blow  at  the 
very  heart  of  this  empire.  Now,  let  me  ask  what  is  the  cause  of 
this  disastrous  combination  ?  Is  it  destiny  !  Is  it  a  wayward  fate  ? 
Must  we  fold  our  hands  in  despair?  Are  we  powerless  in  this 
emergency  ?  Is  it  impossible  for  two  distinct  races,  such  as  the 
English  and  the  Iiish,  to  be  cordially  united  in  feeling?  Look  at 
Alsace  (hear,  hear,  hear).  There  you  have  a  population  of  German 
race — speaking  the  German  language,  separated  only  by  a  river 
from  the  rest  of  the  German  race ;  and  yet  the  inhabitants  of  Al- 
sace are  as  thoroughly  French  in  feeling  as  the  inhabitants  of  Tou- 
raine  (hear,  hear),  and  woe  to  the  German  who  endeavored  to  tam- 
per with  their  allegiance.    Well,  then,  if  race  is  not  the  obstacle 


V,  >  ■ 


\ 


...j  ; 


y 


; 


tnsTonroAt  tNTBoni'cTioif. 


101 

tl.»  «,«•  Im  year   n„  mrt  7f  „    t™""''  """•  '^''  ""«  "'"""■  » 

C.,„uli„„a„fi.„„4     "^    ^,*Z      ,"  ?"""'"-''"*'"'"« 
Justice  ,m,l  equality  Imve  «  binrlit!  /■'""'^.f '"""^«  "le  same  lesson. 
But,  sir,  let  mo  aak  la«  It  th??  "'''*""''''"s™n  destroy 
W.h  people  thele ive    IT.ZTr""''^  "'"'"''  *"  ««  to  tl^ 
Of  their  dlsaffeetlon»2anet?  ""  "^"'T  "'""  '»  tt"  causa 
elve  the  same  reasoa    I  ^m'^L^""  "'"  """  """  '"«/  «"  wlU 
Wends  who  come  from  Inlnd^*     ,'^'"""  """  "^  '""'°'  '"e 
Tho  people  of  Ird  J^s^ ttatlhevr"      "'  "''""  "<*  """^^"^ 
.  .         «.elr  ow.  wishes  or  fo  Co   m^ZZfTr"  '^™"""«  '" 
wishes  or  prejudices  of  m!Z2^TZZ\  T  '"""""«  "'  ""= 
«.y  U.cy  have  no  effectual  ZZoy^Z  OoT'  '"■'^''^-    '""^ 
is  controlled  by  Enriand  and  fhl,  1  Ooremmcnt,  which 

."ited  to  Ireland,  rrlll^lrurre  1""''''^  ^"'' "''' 
day  is  obliOTl  to  conform  l..  „,      """"""  "">  Government  of  the 

• .    land  alonC  to  the  ^e™    oZl         '  "^  *°'^  '""  "^""^  I- 
•    prejudices  ot  the  peo"  „  of  Grtat  12"".  T  '"  ""^  "™"-' 
Whether  this  view  Is  riglrtor  wroL  tTr^    ""^-    '  ''°  "-"  '"^ 
tte  opinion,  nay  the  convie  ion  nft'  oroflr'*  '°'  ""  ""='"« 
the  middle  and  farming  classes  in  ,L^  .  peasantry  but  of 

.  «o).  I  do  not  know  who  I"  °No  ZTr^  "'  '""»"  ("»■ 
«ot  ve^.  well  acquainted  with  Irelind  T  „  """"  "*  '°°"'  ""» 
the  right  honorable  gentleman  , hi  "'"'  '''"'  "  '»•    »  " 

The  other  day  that  lefZZ«  ^""""'y-"™"'"'  «»■  Ireland, 
land  were  nof  at  a^l  d^omSr  ""^  ?'  ""  "^""'^  "^  I«- 
be  attached  to  the  opWonlf .  ^?,  '  '"""'^-  ^°  "-aori'T  ean 
ment  (hear,  he^).  I  thTnk  „  „T"'""'  "'"'  ■""<"  '"*  "  »«"'- 
fute  his  present  contridWouhr.)  "XT'  '"r""'  ""- 
then,  ask,  is  to  be  governed  c™  dig  .7*  ir  Z"""  °- '"■'"™'^ 
,  us  „  the  English  and  Scotch  are  accwdinl  ,1  tt,  "'i'"™™-". 
the.  respective  countHea  (hear.  heaT  Zdr;  Xr^' 


lOS 


FFNtAN   JIEKOES  AND  MAR?;YES. 


markaWc  in'^tanccs  in  Confirmation  of  tlie  vle\/  that  Irish  interests 
arc  sacriflfHHl  to  English  opinion.  Tliey  tuk'i  the  land  question,  an 
olu  grievance ;  lor  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago  Sir  Johu 
Davit.'s  said,  *  No  care  is  talten  of  the  inferior  people.  Tenants 
at  will,  by  reason  of  the  uncertainty  of  their  estates,  did  utterly  neg- 
lect to  improve  the  land.'  They  say  that  Parliament  recognized 
this  gi-ievance  twenty-two  years  ago — that  it  deliberately  admitted 
that  the  Irish  law  of  landlord  and  tenant  was  not  adapted  to  tha 
wants  of  that  countrj'  (hear,  hear),  and  yet,  in  spite  of  eloquent 
speeches  and  <he  exertions  of  eminent  statesmen,  nothing  had  been 
done  to  redress  the  grievance  (cheers).  Over  forty  bills  have  been 
introduced — not  one  that  torches  the  admitted  grievance  has  been 
passed  (hear,  hear).  They  ask — not,  I  think,  unnaturally — ^wouid 
an  English  or  a  Scotch  gi-ievance  have  been  so  dealt  with  (hear, 
hear)  ?  Next  they  turn  to  the  question  of  the  Irish  Church  (cheers). 
For  a  longer  period  even  than  twenty-two  years,  ever  since  1834, 
the  most  eminent  orators  and  statesmen  have  declared  that  no  griev- 
ance like  it  exists  or  ever  has  existed  m  the  world  (hear,  hear). 
Nowhere  elae,  as  Macaulay,  Brougham.,  Lord  Grey,  C.  BuUer,  a 
whole  army  of  distinguished  men  hiwe  proclaimed,  are  the  funds 
destined  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  a  whole  people  appropriated  to 
the  wants  of  a  small  minority  (cheers)  ?  But  eloquence,  and  reason, 
and  authority,  and  logic,  have  been  powerless  against  prejudice-— 
orators  and  statesmen  have  passed  away,  and  the  Irish  Church  re- 
mains. Would,  the  Iiish  people  demands,  such  an  anomaly  hava 
been  tolerated  in  England  or  in  Scotland  (cheers)  ?  Do  you  won- 
der, then,  that  the  Irish  people  complain  that  they  are  governed 
according  to  the  feelings  and  prejudices  of  the  people  of  England, 
rather  than  according  to  their  owa  requirements  (cheers)?  Do 
you  wondfc.-  that  they  resent  tho  deprivation  of  that  which  Guizot, 
in  his  last  volume,  declares  to  be  the  end  of  representative  govern- 
ment, viz. :  that  p.  people  should  have  a  constant  direction  and 
etf(!ctual  control  in  their  own  government;  that  they  should  be 
ruled,  not  aci;ording  to  the  abstract  principles  of  statesmen  who  do 
not  know  their  condition,  but  according  to  the  peculiar  wants  gen- 
erated by  their  own  special  circumstances.  If  you  nean  to  satisfy 
them,  then,  you  must  give  them  what  they  reasonably  and  justly 


f 


HISTORICAL    iNTRODtJCTlON.  103 

ask  for,  not  what  those  at  a  distance  think  suitable  for  them  (cheers. 

Let  them  be  the  judges  in  their  own  concerns.     It  is,  bel  eveTne 

perfectly  tdle  to  attempt  to  change  the  condition-the  pe  i  ou   Ind 

me..acmg  condition  of  Irelaud-unless  you  strive  to  gain  the  hearts 

of  he  Irish  people  (cheers).     These  hearts  you  can  neve  gain  un 

less  you  remove  the  impression  that  English  poUcy  not  iustlce  J^l 

your  delibera  W  (cheers).     No  advfncem'entTrnlCp^^ 

p     ty-no  improvement  in  the  material  condition  of  the  people 

will  do  anytlnng  so  long  as  that  policy  of  injustice  ranldesrthe 

mmds  of  the  people  (cheers).    Indeed,  the  more  educat       hey  be 

fnTJ't    :  "r  f"  "^  ^'^^  ''  ^«°^P-«  '^'-  '-'  with  tat  of  t 


Mr.  Monsell  was  led  into  this  bold  picture  of  the 
state  of  Ireland,  by  a  desire  to  make  the  Government 
hold  out  some  ^'nducement  for  those  not  Fenians  tobe^ 
come   loyal.     "  Make  those/'  said  he,  imploring  the 
Ministers,  "  that  are  mt  Fenians  loyal,  and  you  need 
not  trouble  your  heads  about  the  Fenians."     What  an 
admission  by  an  honest  landlord  who  does  not  advise 
coercion  but  concession  ;  not  the  rule  of  rage,  but  re 
dress.     The  Fenians  are  ^^qoyal:  Mr.  Monsell  says 
the  mass  of  people  not  Fenians   are  not  loyal  •  in 
other  words  the  vast  majority  of  the  people  in  Ireland 
Femans  or  not  Fenians,  are  opposed  from  their  heart 
of  hearts  to  the  English  Government.     How  does  this 
estimate  of  the  people  agree   with    the   Queen's  an- 
nou  icement  of  the  general  loyalty  of  "  her  Irish  sub- 
jects."     Assuredly  the  self-delusive  congratulation  in 


104 


FENIAN   HEROES   AXD  MAETTUg, 


the  Qneen'p  speech  cannot  stand  before  the  powerful 
tniths  in  Mr.  Monsell's  statement. 

" Ireland  tranquil ;"  the  "consph-acj  futile;"  the 
people  "  loyal  I"  Hear  how  John  Bright,  at  Birming- 
ham, addressing  the  majesty  of  the  people  contra- 
dicts the  "  Majesty  of  England/'  on  Ireland  and  the 
Irish  ; 

"Will  you  let  me  tell  you  that  Ireland  was  once  an  independent 
kingdom— that  withiu  the  life-time  of  many  here  it  had  an  inde- 
pendent Parliament— that  at  this  moment,  united  with  Great 
Britain,  it  requires  about  forty  thousand  men— soldiers  and 
military  police— to  keep  the  country  quiet,  and  to  prevent  in- 
surrection, and,  It  may  be,  revolution?     (Cries  of  shame.)" 

Impossible !  forty  thousand  troops  to  keep  the  tran- 
quil, loyal  Irish  quiet.  If  they  are  so  quiet  with  forty 
thousand  soldiers  amongst  them  what  would  such  loyal 
people  be  without  them.  It  is  plain  that  her  Majes- 
ty's idea  of  loyalty  and  Mr.  Bright's  are  not  exactly 
the  same.     The  latter  continues  : 

"  What  right  have  you  to  hold  in  subjection,  by  forty  thousand 
troops,  paid  out  of  your  taxes,  a  people— Houd  applause)— who 
dislike  your  government,  and  who  believe  that  you  have  not  done 
them  justice  ?  (Hear,  hear,  and  cheers.)  I  hear  a  talk— it  is  old 
phraseology — it  was  common  here  about  seventy  or  eighty  years 
ago— about  our  sacred  institutions  in  Church  and  State  {deHsive 
laughter).  Does  any  man  tell  me  that  the  Christian  religion,  or 
that  the  Protestant  portion  of  the  professors  of  that  religion,  have 
any  interest  in  the  maintenance  of  a  Protestant  Church,  compris- 
ing but  a  handful  of  the  population,  in  the  midst  of  a  great  Cath- 
olic nation  ?— (loud  cries  of  no)— and  a  Protestant  Chmch,  compria- 


HISTORICAL  INTEOBtTCTlON.  J  05 

(Crle"oflamet    ,7"=™'"""  P^P^^y  "f  te  whoic  kingdom, 
hear  b  aS      ?■  T  ""'™«d 'Ws  matter  before  in  this  haJl 

.  -"» aU:s™:rrtfe?;:e:r;r^      -^  -• 

body  were  to  attempt  to  set  un  in  i^r,rr^  a  i'^^*"^*  ^<^  '^  any- 
up  b,  Ireland,  ^  Ja^^  ^ J^ft^ttl  J.«<^°f  ^  *»!  '1 
amrcAj,  and  comiant  revolt,  (hoar,  heIrT"  "/P'^'P^to'.' 

Mr  Bright's  idea  of  a  tranquil  nation  differ  as  much 
from  that  .n  tite  Queen's  speech,  an  their  estimates 
of  what  makes  a  loyal  man.    Moreover,  the  English 

q>uhty  qutte  as  forcibly  as  the  Irish  landlord  shows 
there  is  none.  American  journalists  should  note  these 
facts  and  be  prepared  to  expect  a  suspension  of  the  //o- 
iea^a^^Act,  as  an  echo  to  Irish  "tranquility" 
an  attack  on  a  barracks  to  be  hidden  behind  every  of- 
ficial glortfication  of  " content" in  "poor Ireland." and 
to  be  morally  certain  that  the  jails  are  overflowing 
when  Ireland  is  complimented  on  her  "  loyalty." 

B,r;  ;*:  ^""■^'^  '^'^"'^  --  ■'•^-^  -^'d,  Ld  the 

aitish  Parliament  prorogued  in  London,  on  the  21st 
of  Augiist,  the  Sixth  National  Congress  of  the  Fenian 
J^rotherhood  was  assembling  i„  New  York.    Delegates 
representing  the  States  of  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Con-     ■ 
nectieut,   Rhode  Island,  New  Jersey.  Pennsylvania 


^1      l 


106 


FENIAN   HEE0E8   AND  MARTYRS. 


I 


Oliio,  Maryland,  Indiana,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Vir- 
ginia, Michigan,  Kansas,  Iowa,  Washington,  D.  C, 
New  York  City  and  District  of  Manhattan,  Long 
Island,  and  Counties  and  Towns  of  the  State  of  Kew 
York,  and  Canada,  took  their  seats. 

The  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  Brotherhood 
since  the  last  Congress  was  submitted  and  approved. 
The  great  object  of  the  Assembly  was  to  consult  on 
some  means  of  reconstruction  to  meet  the  altered  as- 
pect of  circumstances  in  Ireland.  To  this  end  the 
Constitution  was  slightly  amended,  and  Mr.  John 
Savage  elected  Chief  Executive.  On  the  next  day, 
the  25th,  Mr.  Savage  attended  the  Congress.  The 
following  is  from  the  official  report : 

Mr.  Savagk  briefly  addressed  the  Convention.  After  explaining 
why  he  was  unable  to  accept  the  invitation  of  the  Convention,  and 
be  present  at  its  sittings  (in  consequence  of  severe  illness  which 
scarcely  permitted  his  presence  for  a  brief  period  to-day),  Mr  Sav- 
age  thanked  the  Convention  for  the  high  honor  it  had  paid  him  in 
unanimously  electing  him  to  the 'office  of  Chief  Executive  of  the 
Fenian  Brotherhood,  and  said : 

"Many  of  you  are  aware  that  I  have  for  months  persistently  re- 
fused to  allow  my  name  to  be  brought  forward  in  this  connection 
As  tar  back  as  the  last  Congress  or  Convention,  I  declined  the 
proposition.    If  I  consulted  my  own  desire,  I  would  decline  it  now 
My  habits  are  at  variance  with  those  of  what  is  called  an  '  Irish 
politician, '  a  character  with  which  I  have  no  desire  to  be  confound- 
ed.    My  habits  are  those  of  a  student  and  literary  man ;  and  I  have 
been  induced  to  accept  this  office  on  the  urgent  representation  of 
good  men,  personally  and  by  letter— men  who,  speaking  for  locali- 
lies  thousands  of  mUes  apart,  have  expressed  the  same  request. 


HISTORICAL   tNTRODUCTION-. 


107' 


based  upon  the  same  hope.  They  have  been  pleased  to  say  that 
possibly  through  me  a  union  of  discordant  parties  might  be  eflect- 
ed,  and  placed  the  matter  in  such  a  light  as  compeUed  me  to  this 
course  as  a  duty. " 

Mr.  Savage  spoke  of  the  deep  love  of  country  which  lay  in  tho 
centre  of  every  Irishman's  heart,  and  which  needed  only  mutual 
respect  among  themselves,  and  a  proper  incentive  to  be  made  an 
effective  power.  Without  a  knowledge  of  details,  the  movements 
of  the  year  were  deemed  failures.  The  world  judges  causes  by  re- 
suits— meu.ures  the  character  of  attempts  by  their  issues,  but  time 
to  use  a  journalistic  simile,  was  a  careful  proof-reader,  a  sedulous 
emendator,  and  revised  the  erroneous  impressions  left  by  contempo- 
raneous judgments,  often  proving-what  it  wUl  again  prove— that 
failures  are  but  the  openings  to  success. 

Mr.  Savage  exc  used  himself  on  account  of  the  state  of  his  health 
from  speaking  at  length,  but,  in  conclusion  said  he  would  mvoke 
Almighty  God-the  God  of  the  sorrowful  and  oppressed,  as  weU  aa 
the  God  of  the  free,  to  illumine  his  brain  with  the  fire  of  wisdom 
and  cleanse  his  heart  with  the  fire  of  truth,  so  that  thus  purified  and 
strengthened,  he  might  be  gifted  with  honesty,  sagacity  and  cour- 
age,  to  unite  the  scattered  elements  of  the  race,  and  fervently  labor 
to  guide  them  to  a  beneficial  result. 

Such  is,  in  substance,  an  historical  epitome  of  Irish 
wrongs  for  centuries;  and  of  the  efforts  made,  espe- 
cially within  the  last  three-quarters  of  a  century,  and 
even  unto  this  date,  by  Irishmen,  at  home  and  abroad, 
to  establish  Irish  rights  in  Ireland. 

J.  S. 

FoEDHAM,  26th  August,  1867, 


THE  ANCIENT  FENIANS. 


109 


THE  AXCIEKT  FEKIAITS. 


The  Fen!an«_Who  Were  They-Thelr  Duties,  Manners  and  Cufltoms-The 
OsBlaulc  Society 

Since  tlio  Fenian  Brotherhood  have  become  famous, 
a  power  on  the  earth,  and  a  terror  to  English  minis- 
ters and  excited  Parliamentarians,  there  have  been 
many  speculations  as  to  the  origin,  meaning  and  ap- 
propriateness of  the  designation— Fenian.  Some  of 
these  conjectures  were  very  far-fetched,  others  ridicu- 
lous, and  none  correct.  That  tracing  the  name  of  the 
Brotherhood  to  the  Phoenicians  who  came  to  Ireland 
in  the  remote  ages,  was  the  only  one  approaching  ra- 
tionality. 

The  era  of  the  Fiann  {Feean\  that  is  the  Fenian 
p3riod,  was  one  the  most  romantic  and  glorious  in 
the  records  of  ancient  Ireland,  and  an  account  of  the 
Fenian  Brotherhood  who  then  made  it  so,  collated 
from  the  most  reliable  authorities  at  hand,  will  doubt- 
less be  interesting  in  itself,  as  well  as  furnishing  the 
origin  of  the  designation  now  so  widely  recognized  as 
synonymous  with  Irish  liberty." 


* 


*  The  authorities  freely  used  in  the  compilation  of  this  chapter,  are  Dr  John 
O  Donovan's  Translation  of  the  Annals  of  the  Four  Masters.  1  vols;  Owen 
Connella.1'8  Translation  of  these  Annah,  with  annotations,  by  Philip  MacDer- 
mon,  M  D.,  1  vo].,4to;  Moore's  Ireland;  O'Mahony's  Translation  of  Keating, 
JN.  Y.,  1860,  and  the  various  references  made  by  all. 


fF 


II 


110 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


Tlio  Fenians,  called  by  the  Irish  writers  Fianna 
Eit'i(mn{\\\Q  Fenians  of  Irolaml),  are  mentioned  in  tlie 
Four  Masters,  nnder  the  title  of  Feiie,  or  Feine,  wliieh 
according  to  Doctor  O'Conor,  signifies  the  Phceni- 
cians  of  Ireland,  and  they  were  probably  called  so, 
says  McDermott,  from  the  tradition  that  the  Plxcni- 
cians  came  to  Ireland  in  the  early  ages.  Their  mode 
of  life  would  seem  to  give  some  warrant  to  the  conjec- 
ture that  the  name  was  as  likely  to  come  from  Fiad- 
hach  {Feeagh),  a  hunt,  and  to  mean  an  order  of  hunt- 
ers. Thus  tlie  German  Liglit  Cavalry  Corps,  Jagers, 
means  hunters.  The  Fenians  seem  to  have  done  noth- 
ing but  hunt  and  fight.* 

The  most  widely  accepted  explanation  of  the  name 
is  that  the  Fianna  Eirionn,  were  called  after  Finn 
MacCumhal  their  great  leader.  This  Finn  is  the 
hero  of  MacPherson's  Ossian,  and  is  there  called  Fin- 
gal.  "  It  has  been  the  fate  of  this  popular  hero," 
says  Moore,  "  after  a  long  course  of  traditional  renown 
in  his  country,  where  his  name  still  lives,  not  only  in 
legends  and  songs,  but  yet  in  the  most  indelible 
scenery  connected  v  Ith  his  memory,  to  have  been  all 
at  once  transferred,  by  adoption,  to  another  country 
(Scotland),  and  start  under  a  new  but  false  shape,  in  a 
fresh  career  of  fame." 

Dr.  O'Donovan  says,  "  This  celebrated  warrior,  who 
had  two  grand  residences  in  Leinster,  one  at  Almh.iim, 
now  the  hill  of  Allen,  and  the  other  at  Magh  File, 
now  Moyelly,  in  the  King's  County,  was  son-in-law  of 
King   Cormac,  and   General   of  his   standing  army, 

•  See  O'Mahony'B  Keating,  notes  to  preface. 


11 


THE  ANCIENT  FENIANS. 


Ill 


which,  as  Pinkcrton  remarks,  seems  to  have  been  in 
imitation  of  tlie  Roman  Legion.     The  words  of  tin's 
critical  writer  are  worth  qnoting  here  :    'He  seems, 
Bays  he,  '  to  have  been  a  man  of  great  talents  for  the 
age,  and  of  celebrity   in  arms.     His   formation   of  a 
regnlar  standing  army,  trained  to  war,  in  which  all  the 
Irish  accoimts  agree,  seems  to  have  a  rude  imitation  of 
the  Eoman  Legion  in  Britain.     The  idea,  though  sim- 
ple enough,  shows  i)rudence ;  for  such  a  force  alone 
could  have  coped  with  the  Romans  had  they  invaded 
Ireland.     But  this  machine,  which  surprised  a  rude 
age,  and  seems  the  basis  of  all  Finn's  fame,  like  some 
other  great  schemes,  only  lived  with  its  author,  and 
expired  soon  after  him.'  "*     Finn,  however,  was  not 
the  founder,  but  the  great  disciplinarian  and  most  re- 
nowned leader  of  the  body. 

The  traditional  repute  of  Finn  and  his  Fenians  was 
imdoubtedly  great,  for,  as  O'Donovan  suggests,  their 
achievements  were  handed  down,  vividly  remember- 
ed, and  enthusiastically  recounted,  while  their  imi- 
tators, the  Kerns  and  Galloglasses  of  later  ages,  are 
nearly  forgotten. 

The  Fenians  were  the  standing  military  force,  the 
national  militia,  instituted  in  the  early  ages  long  be- 
fore the  Christian  era,  but  brought  to  the  greatest 
perfection  in  the  reign  of  the  celebrated  Cormac,  Mon- 
arch of  Ireland,  in  the  third  century.  They  were  in 
regular  and  constant  pay,  and  their  duty  similar  to  that 
of  any  modern  standing  army.  They  had  to  defend 
the  country  against  foreign  or  domestic  enemies,  to 

•  Pinkerton'B  Inquiry  into  the  Hietory  of  Scotland. 


112 


FENIAN   ITEROKS    AND  MAtiTYRS. 


Bny)port  tlio  ric^lits  and  snccesaion  of  the  chief  monarch, 
and  to  be  ready  at  the  shortest  notice,  to  meet  any  sur- 
prise or  state  emergency.  They  guarded  the  sea  coasts, 
having  strict  eye  upon  the  creeks  and  liavens  of  the 
island,  lest  any  pirates  should  be  lurking  there  to  prey 
upon  the  inhabitants,  and  plunder  the  country.  They 
were  to  support  the  crown,  defend  the  country,  and 
secure  the  liberty  and  property  of  the  people. 

In  the  winter  time,  that  is  from  Samhain  (All-ITal- 
low-tide)  to  Beltani,  (May)  these  troops  were  quartered 
upon  the  people,  and  the  rest  of  the  year  they  lived 
out  of  doors,  being  permitted  to  hunt  and  fish  and  pro- 
vide for  themselves.  They  received  pay  during  the 
winter  season,  and  for  wages  during  the  hunting  season, 
the  skins  of  the  animals  they  caught,  which  brought  a 
good  price.  By  this  admirable  arrangement  the  troops 
were  always  kept  in  a  state  of  athletic  activity,  and 
was  a  self-sustaining  establishment  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year.  The  hunting  and  fishing  was  not 
permitted  to  interfere  with  other  duties,  as  they  were 
enforced  to  perform  their  military  exercises,  and  to  be 
under  discipline.  The  officers  were  enjoined  not  to 
oppress,  but  to  defend  the  inhabitants  from  the  in- 
roads of  thieves  and  robbers,  and  to  promote  the  peace 
and  happiness  of  the  people.  It  was  their  duty  to 
quell  all  riots  and  insurrections,  to  raise  fines,  secure 
forfeited  estates  for  the  use  of  the  monarch,  enquire 
into  and  suppress  at  the  beginning  all  seditions,  anc] 
to  appear  in  arms  whenever  the  State  required. 

The  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Fenians  during  the 
hunting  season,  as  well  as  the  qualifications  necessary 


THE  ANCIENT  FENIANS.  jjg 

"lar:  who,,  tho^t^rZ  '     •' T*' ^"^  ^'''•y  P"""- 
C"^tom  iu  the  fi^-e  In    n^  '"'"•■■"«'  **  ^"^  t'.eir 

great  fires,  into  wl.ich  thZlT'  "  ''"'^  ''""'''ed 

stones,  wh'ere  the7  ct£  ^IT  f," '""•"••-  "^  '-go 
Tl.eu  the,  applied  tl.omTlri'";^  """^  "•'"'  >■<"• 
tl>e  earth,  into  one  of  J,vf         ''   *"  S""""*  P't^  '" 

-od  to  hiyi:  :ftho"e  t'tT"  *'" """'""' ^oy 

"pon  which  thov  wo„l,)^i        ■        """  "'  *  payment, 

-,,  fixeS  a„otl,o.  lal  1", ':  'If '  "^''r  "'-«  ^-dles 
of  flesh,  and  this  motiZ  I  '"''  *''™  "  1"™% 

fit  to  eat  and  then  *  "*  ^^  '''^"■^'^  '■'"  i*  was 

diet,  instead'of  rt^"  '  2  ■'""  "  '"'"^  ^  '"^er  [heir 

would  roast  irbShesel '""'>"  ''"''"^^'^'  ^^^ 
and  wholesome  "''  ""^  '"""^^  "  P^'^table 

As  an  undisputed  evidence  of  these  fire,  ti 
of  them  continue  deep  in  the  earth  t'     ', ""''' 
the  island,  to  this  dnv    fi?  !i         '      '"'"'^  P'^^^s  of 

burned  ex'eeed  n^fieTc;  ZfZ  """  "^  ""■^'^'  ^"-^ 
^  now  to  be  me?wM  ;  :'  ^  ZTtT  """  '^'^ 
^''^"  -.  '^-bandman  in  Ltd  Z     fpTh™^- 


114 


FKNIAN   inCROTCfl   ANT)  MARTTRfl. 


;,i  - 

.- 1 


f 


plou<;h  any  blm-.k  \mrnt  oiirtli,  Im  linnu'«liiitcly  knowi* 
tlu'  »»c(':ision  of  it ;  ftiid  tliowoil  ot'tliiit  vo\ov  in  kiu»wn, 
uitli  jxi't'iit^^  i)n>i>rioty,  by  tlio  luitiu;  of  Knlticht  Finn,  tho 
cot»kiM<;  pliu'Ort  or  kiU'liona  of  tlio  Foniuiirt,  to  thin  tiino. 
AVhi'ii  tlu>  Ii-iBli  luilitiii  cmuo  to  tlio«o  tlrcB  to  drortfl 
tlioir  moat,  boforo  tboy  wont  to  oat  tlioy  wouUl  Htri[> 
tliouisolvoB  to  thoir  Bhirtti,  wbicb  ihoy  modoHtly  tiod 
about  thoir  nuddk^,  and  p)  into  tho  otiior  pit  (biic  in 
tlio  <;ronnd,  which  was  vory  hir<j;o  and  liib^d  willi  wator. 
lloro  tboy  wouhl  wash  thoir  lioadn  and  nocks,  and  other 
parts  of  thoir  bodies,  till  tboy  had  oloansod  thoinHtdvcs 
from  tho  swoat  and  dust  occasioned  by  thoir  huntini;; 
and  this  custom  was  vory  wbolosomo  and  rofroshinLC, 
for  they  would  rub  thoir  lind»s  and  thoir  joints,  till  tboy 
had  fori^ot  all  thoir  fati.ij:u(\  and  bocanio  as  si)righl  ly 
and  active  as  when  tboy  bei«;an  their  sport  in  tho  morn- 
ing: when  tboy  wore  perfectly  clean,  tboy  woidd  put 
on  their  clothes,  and  begin  thoir  meal. 

After  they  had  oaten  they  would  apply  thcmsolvos 
to  build  huts  and  tents,  where  tboy  made  their  bods, 
and  designed  to  repose  thomsolvos  for  the  following 
iiiMit.  These  beds  were  composed  and  laid  out  with 
groat  exactness.  They  cut  down  branches  of  trees, 
wliich  they  ]>hiced  next  the  ground;  npon  these  was 
hiid  a  quantity  of  dry  moss,  and  upon  the  top  of  all 
was  strewed  a  bundle  of  green  rushes,  which  made  a 
very  commodious  lodging.  These  beds,  in  the  ancit  nt 
nuimiscripts,  are  called  Tri  cuilcoadha  na  feinc ;  which, 
ill  English,  signities  the  three  beddings  of  the  Fenians. 
Tlie  constant  number  of  these  standing  forces,  that 
weie^n;  M  -ored  upon  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  was  three 


*   t  I; 


t 


THE   ANOlliNT  FKNIANg.  II5 

ov  «lmut  1()(),0,)(,  i„  ti,„„„,-"i      f  •■  "      ,"  !"•"""""'! 

rank,  there,  v.,    a",  1  """'"  '^''"^•' '""' ''^  '"■  i"  » 

tho  otl,or  ,Z^  "'■  "'''"""'"'  '■'•'""  '•'""  ton  over 

Evoiy  Bddicr  tlmt  was  received  intn  rt,„      •,-.•      , 

>^^o„,.i;dii;ito';;;::;:,:t:::;^tfir'< 

mercenary  c,«t«,„  „f  i,,,,,.,;  ,  ^,7         ""'.'""'W  tl,o 

^i'o,  but,  witlK,nt  re,  a  I  to  , '"T  ^  '""".""  *''"'  ' 
clioosc  a  woman  tor  Uovlt,l  "'  ''"  "'""'''' 

•nanners.  Tl.e  secon  I  J.  , '  '"""■'''*'^'  ""'^  g"""! 
lonco  to  a  «.  na„  T '  1  "  T"'"''  °''™'-  °«"«^  ^^O" 
ital,le  and  re  eve  tl,e  1'  ' '"' ''°  *""'''  ^e  clmr- 

-  ^-ar  a.  hiraiTimi  fw  ^^  T,  ^  r't"?  ^'V'"'"'^' 
^e  wonid  not  turn  hie  bac^^e  JerS;'':^^' 


\l 


FENIAN  HEEOEB   AHm  MARTTE9. 

nine  men  of  any  other  nation  that  set  upon  him,  and 
oETered  to  fight  with  him. 

It  must  not  be  siipposed  that  every  person  who  was 
willing  to  be  enlisted  in  the  militia  of  Ireland,  would 
be  accepted ;  for  Finn  was  very  strict  in  his  inquiry, 
and  observed  these  rules  in  fiilling  up  the  number  of 
his  troops,  which  were  exactly  followed  by  his  succes- 
sors in  command,  when  they  had  occasion  to  recruit 
their  forces. 

He  ordained,  therefore,  that  no  person  should  be  en- 
listed or  received  into  the  service,  in  the  congregation 
or  assembly  of  Uisneach,  or  in  the  celebrated  fair  of 
Tailtean,  or  at  Feis  Teamrach,  unless  his  father  and 
mother,  and  all  the  relatives  of  his  family,  would  stipu- 
late and  give  proper  security,  that  not  one  of  them 
should  attempt  to  revenge  his  death  upon  the  person 
that  slew  him,  but  to  leave  the  affair  of  his  death 
wholly  in  the  hands  of  his  fellow-soldiers,  who  would 
take  care  to  do  him  justice  as  the  case  required ;  and 
it  was  ordained,  likewise,  that  the  relations  of  a  soldier 
of  this  militia  should  not  receive  any  damage  or  re- 
proach for  any  misbehavior  committed  by  him. 

The  second  qualification  for  admittance  into  these 
standing  forces  was,  that  no  one  should  be  received, 
unless  he  had  a  poetical  genius,  and  could  compose 
verses,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  the  twelve  books 
of  poetry. 

The  third  condition  was,  that  he  should  be  a  perfect 
master  of  his  weapons,  and  able  to  defend  himself 
against  all  attacks ;  and  to  prove  his  dexterity  in  the 
management  of  his  arms,  he  was  placed  in  a  plain  field, 


1 


THE  ANCIENT  FEKIjUfS. 


iir 


encompassed  *,th  green  eedge,  that  reached  above  his 

Bt"ke'int-''r  *^    ,T  "  '^S""  ^y  >'™'  ''Id  a  hazel 
Btake  in  h.s  hand  of  the  length  of  a  man's  arm.     Then 

mne  experienced  soldier,  of  the  militia  were  drawn 

ont,  and  appointed  to  stand  at  the  distance  of  nine 

ndges  o   land  from  him,  and  to  throw  all  their  jav^ 

1ms  at  him  at  once ;  if  he  had  the  skill,  with  his  tar.!et 

and  his  stak.,  to  defend  himself,  and  c'ome  off  nnh  S 

he  was  admitted  into  the  service ;  bnt  if  he  had  the  mi^ 

fortune  to  be  wonnded  by  one  of  those  javelins,  he  was 

Thl  tl.r  ™T"'"f '  ^"'^  '"™^'^  o*^  -*  -preach 
This  tual  was  to  make  snre  that  the  claimant  for  ad- 

m  ssion  was  competent  to  fill  the  post  of  leader  of  a 

ward  ,rf  ""^'•'"  """'"^  P""''''"  •'«  ™'  «=^P««ted  to 
wa  d  oft  f,.„„  ,„,  ^en,  the  javelins  of  an  equal  file  of 

attacking  enemies. 

..^^T'fl??"^''"'''"  '"^'  *''^'  ^''  ^ho""  ra^i  well, 
and  m  his  flight  defend  himself  from  his  enemy    and 

and  was  obliged  to  run  through  a  wood,  with  all  the 
m, litia  pursninghim,  and  was  allowed  but  the  breadth 
of  a  ti;ee  before  the  rest  at  the  setting  out ;  if  he  was 

hldtnTb"  ^'wl'"^'  "'■  ''"'"'^  ^  -°™d  before  h^ 
had  ran  through  the  wood,  he  was  refused  as  too  sln^- 

friS;;'^"' "  ^^•^  -^^^ '--  -ng  ti 

It  was  required,  in  the  fifth  place,  that  whoever  was 
a  candidate  for  admission  into  the  mihtia,  should  hZ 
a  strong  arm,  and  hold  his  weapon  steady ;  and  if  it 
was  observed  th.t  his  hands  shook,  he  was  rejected 


I  ! 


118 


FENIAIJ   HEROES   AND  MAETYRg. 


The  sixth  requisite  was,  that  when  he-  ran  through 
a  wood  liis  liair  should  continue  tied  up,  during  the 
chase ;  if  it  fell  loose,  he  could  not  be  received. 

The  seventh  qualification  was,  to  be  so  swift  and 
light  of  foot  as  not  to  break  a  withered  branch  by 
touching  upon  it. 

The  eiglith  condition  vas,  that  none  should  have  the 
honor  of  being  enrolled  among  the  Irish  militia,  that 
was  not  so  active  as  to  leap  over  a  tree  as  high  as  his 
forehead ;  or  could  not,  by  the  agility  of  his  body,  stoop 
easily  under  a  tree  that  was  as  low  as  his  knee. 

The  ninth  condition  required  was,  that  he  could, 
without  stopping  or  lessening  his  speed,  draw  a  thorn 
out  of  his  foot. 

The  tenth  and  last  qualification  was,  to  take  an  oath 
of  allegiance  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  the  command- 
ing ofiicer  of  the  army.  These  were  the  tei-ms  requir- 
ed for  admission  among  these  brave  troops ;  which,  so 
long  as  they  were  exactly  insisted  upon,  the  militia  of 
Ireland  were  an  invincible  defence  to  their  country, 
and  a  terror  to  rebels  at  home  and  enemies  abroad. 

The  great  Finn  was  slain  by  the  cast  of  a  javelin  or 
the  shot  of  an  arrow,  at  a  place  called  Ath  Brea,  on 
the  river  Boyne,  A.  D.  283.  After  his  death,  the  Fe- 
nians were  commanded  by  his  son  Ossian,  (pronounced 
Osheen,)  the  Celtic  Homer,  who  was  a  famous  warrior 
as  well  as  a  bard.  At  the  great  battle  of  Gaura,  the 
Fenian  forces,  numbering  twenty  thousand,  eighteen 
thousand  of  whom  fell,  were  commanded  by  Ossian '3 
son  Osgar,  who  was  also  killed.  "  The  tremendou8 
battle  of  Gaura  is  considered  to  have  led  to  the  subse- 


J 


i 


Is 


'f 


tn-E  ANcmm:  feu^ians. 


119 


quent  fall  of  the  Irisli  monarchy,  for,  after  the  destruc- 
tion  of  the  lenian  forces,  the  Irish  kings  never  were 
able  to  muster  a  national  army  equal  in  valor  and  dis- 
ciplme  to  those  heroes,  either  to  cope  with  foreign  foes 
or  to  reduce  to  subjection  the  rebellioas  provincial 
kmgs  and  princes;  hence  the  monarchy  became  weak 
and  disorganized,  and  the  ruling  powers  were  unable 
to  maintain  their  authority,  or  make  a  sufficient  stand 
against  the  Danish  and  Anglo-Norman  in^^aders  of 

alter  times."* 

»  •   .  ■> 

The  Ossianic  Poems  are  replete  with  descriptions 

ot  the  greatness,  magnificence  and  glory  of  Finn  and 

the  prowess  of  the  Fenians.     One  of  the  poems  gi^es  a 

ghmpse  of  the  great  fortress  on  the  hill  of  Allen  in  Kil. 

dare,  the  chief  residence  of  the  Fenian  chief,  and  the 

troops  under  his  immediate  eye.    It  is  thus  versified : 

When  I  supp'd  in  the  halls  of  Pinn, 
At  ev'iy  banquet  there,  I've  seeu 

A  thousand  costly  goblets  brimming,  '     • 

Their  edges  wreathed  with  goldea  rimnilas; 

Twelve  habitations  rose  in  state,  ••   '      .     • 

Fill'd  with  the  Fenian  legions  great. 

In  the  son  of  the  daughter  of  Teige's  conauma. 

At  lair  Almhuin  of  the  Fenian  band.  ' 

Twelve  great  fires  forever  flamed, 
In  each  of  the  princely  dwellings  namea, 
And  round,  to  be  but  in  death  sund'red. 
Were  Fenian  heroes  by  the  hundred. 

The  Ossianic_  Societ/s  publications,  ^re  throwing 
great  light  and  innumerable  picturesque  illustration! 

•  Annota,  Connellau's  and  MacDermott»t  Four  itasttrt. 


120 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


on  the  customs  and  habits,  as  well  as  the  political  his- 
tory of  what  is  particularly  distinguished  as  the  Fe- 
nian era  of  Ireland.     This  society  numbers  among  its 
members  very  distinguished,  as  well  as  somo  very  loyal 
gentlemen ;  and  it  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  while 
they  are  sedulously  employed  in  disentombing  from 
the  dust  of  ages,  the  history,  literature,  bravery  and 
•  gallantry  of  the  elder  Fenian  period ;  the  Government 
are  not  less  busily  employed  in  consigning  to  the  death 
of  dungeons,  and  the  obscurity  of  penal  servitude,  those 
who  aspired  to  bring  a  new  soul  into  Ireland,  c  -  -evive 
the  spirit  of  the  old  national  guard,  in  the  creation  of 
the  Fenian  Brotherhood.     The  Ossianic  Society  ought 
to  be  encouraged  in  their  efforts  to  illuminate  the  Fe- 
nian history  of  Ireland.     Macpherson,  in  his  manufac- 
tured Ossian,  leads  us  to  look  upon  Finn  as  a  myth. 
The  history  brought  to  public  view  by  the  Ossianic  So- 
ciety, show  him  to  have  been  what  he  was,  a  great  pa- 
triot-general, of  remarkable  foresight,  military  genius, 
and  heroism.     There  is  no  greater  inspiration  to  hero- 
ism than  the  example  afforded  by  the  deeds  of  heroes. 
In  picture,  poem  and  story,  they  should  be  kept  before 
the  eye  and  heart  of  the  people,  to  excite  the  imagina- 
tion to  noble  actions,  and  to  strengthen  the  will  to 
perform  them. 


i..^ 


fi- 


ts 
al 
le 


n 


It 


i 


E 

1  ;f  • 

r'ii 

1  '*'  *'  1 

pi     i 

tf '  \ 

f  (f  - .  1 

* 

4 


'i 


ii 


in. 


i 


I . 


!!' 


•^. 


1- 


COLONEL  THOMAS   FRANCIS   BOURKB. 


121 


'i 


COLONEL  THOMAS  FEANCIS  BOURKE.    ^ 

Emmet  and  Bo«rke_Movement«  of  BourkO  Family  in  America  and  Canada- 
#ar  AUh.'.'^hf.  l7  '  ^''^'"-'-Joi„«  the  Fenian  Brotherhood  after  the 
^!.i7nt    w,  ^^-''^re^s-Succes*,  aB  Organizer  for  Manhattan  Dintrict- 

Rc8i«n8-\VhyhewenttoIreland-A8Hij;ned  to  the  TipperaryDintrict-The 
R...n,^-Captured  atlkllyhur.st  Fort-Indicted  for  Ili^h  Treason-Triai-Ev. 
denceof  the  Informori  Masseyand  Corrydon-Great  Speech  in  tile  Dock- 
rouclung  Letters  to  hi^l9ther-De8criptlon  in  his  Cell.  x; 

It  lias  been  truly  said  that  no  words  have  so  thrill- 
ed  the  Irish  heart,  since  the  ever-famous  speech  of  Rob- 
ert Emmet,  in  the  dock,  September,  1803,  as  those  of 
Thomas  Francis  Bourke,  in  the  same  place,  on  the  Ist 
May,  1867. 

No  doubt  the  similarity  of  the  scenes  which  go  into 
the  immortal  history  of  Ireland's  martyroloi^y  simul- 
taneously suggested  the  comparison  between  them,  to 
many  minds.  It  was  natural.  It  would  have  been  re- 
markable, indeed,  if  beholding  the  one,  the  memories 
of  die  other  were  not  conjured  up.  Sixty-four  years 
almost  had  passed,  since  the  devoted  young  Irish  exile 
went  from  France  to  revolutionize  his  country,  and 
give  freedom  and  the  means  of  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity  to  her  oppressed  people.  Uncontrollable  circum- 
stances baffled  his  devotion,  waylaid  his  hopes,  exposed 
his  plans,  frustrated  the  result,  which  should  have  fol- 


\ 


122 


FE.VfAN    IIEKOES   AKD   MARTYRg. 


..     thor.ty,  us  administcvod  in  Ireland  bv    id  -^^        ""' 
Noi-burv      lit,  ,i-„,i     1       .  ■"."""   oy  the  nifainoua 

able  to  Lli   n  ;      at3l'"  "^ r^''^"  '-^  -- 
and  "  Readers  "»l,r  <'-"7  S>vo,i  in  school-books 

enliven  their  .nental  marr.,w  w'th  del  „f  T'"''"'  ",' 
strengthen  them  with  faith  in  love  o    eo  ,^7'  "" 
unto  djing  for  her.  country,  ev,.„ 

The  lioroisni  and  romantic  disinterestcdnc,  whi,.b 

::ot:m;;r;:r;:!:'  r'^^'--'  -''■'-^- -"'<■' 

.    I'iiue,  not  less  than  onr  mtv -nifi  r.,*f,r  +i 

Irish  dramatist  tells  us  is  "kin  f .  l^     »    t      F   •^'  ^^'^ 

^--ragaininti;;^:;^:;;^-:::-^^ 

Ihis  tmie  the  hero  went  to  Ireland,  not  f  -om  France 

^'f  ■"/'-'•'-;•«»'•''-'  by  similar  desires,  fed  by  « 
l>ioad  a  iaitli,  and  enconi'aged  by  hopes  born  of  f? 

It  IS  not  only  a  sonree  of  consolation,  bnt  of  hopeful 
nsp,«t,on,  to  see  the  effect  prodnced  by  tl  e  b  J     d 
tone  nng  words  of  an  honest  man.     They  a.^,  1  c  ' 

no  a,g„  nent  to  enforce  their  truths,  or  prove  the  char 
acterof  the  man  who  utters  them.'  Thomas  R.amL 
Lourke,  who  had  been  scarcely  .nentioned  in  the  pi 
lie  press,  before  his  trial,  has  leaped  into  a  w  ,  ely  "c 
knowledged pre-eminence;  a  position  which    ann't be 


COLONEL   THOMAS   FRANCIS  BOUEKE. 


123 


won  Bimply  by  fortunate   circnmstuncos  on  the  one 

Jiaiid,  or  appcnlincrly  oj^pressive  treatment  on  tlic  otJier. 

The  viral  spark  ol  genius,  wlietlier  it  be  nianit'ested  in 

letters,  art,  seience  or  heroism— for  there  is  a  genius  in 

heroism  outside  of  that  other  reliable  kind  mentioned 

in  gazettes,  and  based  on  routine— must  be  there— 

niust  give  life  to  the  act  or  expressed  thouglit,  must 

give  that  touch  of  nature  which   makes  the  whole 

world  kin.     Robert  Emmet  was  scarcely  known  until 

he  never  could  be  known,  save  by  the  record  whicli 

his  genius  and  his  faith  made.     Tl'ie  name  of  Thomas 

Francis  Bourke  was  scarcely  known  until  it  tilled  all 

mouths ;  and  he  will,  no  doubt,  be  associated  with  his 

day,  when  those  who  occupied  public  attention  for 

years  before  it,  will  be  placed  on  the  retired  lists  of 

history. 

It  is  those  truths,  which  anticipate  tradition  and  his- 
tory, that  lend  an  interest  to  the  career,  whatever  it 
may  have  been,  which  preceded  the  act  which  gives 
or  propitiates  fame. 

Thomas  Francis  Bourke  was  born  on  the  10th  De- 
cember, 1840,  in  the  town  of  Fethard,  county  of  Tip- 
perary— "  Tipperary  of  the  broad  hills  and  golden  val- 
leys ;  Tipperary,  where  the  rivers  flow  like  Irish  melo- 
dies, dividing  their  chorus  with  the  more  rua'o-ed  and 
picturesque  hills  of  Waterford,  that  seem  to  giw  tame 
with  listening,  as  the  '  rude  sea '  erst  did  to  the  '  dulcet 
and  harmonious  breath '  of  Oberon's  mermaid."  Like 
many  of  the  very  ablest  men,  wits,  orators  and  poets, 
Curran,  Moore  and  Mangan,  for  instance,  and  most 
devoted  and  effective  patriots,  like  Wolfe  Tone  and 


124 


FENIAN   HEROICS   AND  AtARTYRS. 


■Willinin  ]»utfiiini  JMcCubo,  Boiirko  sprung  fvovi  tlio 
people.     We  Icuni  that  both  of  liis  pmviitB  bcdonoed 
to  tlio  most  ivspcctuMe  of  tlioso  families,   kiiowiriu 
•    Iivlmul  as  "the  middle  class."     Hi.  father  was  a  man 
ot  marked  intellioeneo,  and  more  than  the  averao-o 
education  of  persons  engaoed  in  trade.    He  carried  on 
the  painting  and  decorating  business  successfully  for 
many  years,  and,  as  well  from  liis  cleverness  and  in- 
dustry, as  from  his  family  connection  with  immy  of  the 
professional  men  and  better  class  of  fai-mers,  enjov(>d 
a  large  share  of  the  contracts  in  his  county.     Nci  u'lan 
stood  higher  in  his  community,  than  the" good  father 
ot  this  good  son,  who  was  one  of  six  children.     The 
results  of  the  famine  year,  which  were  felt  so  heavily  in 
the  south  and  west,  materially  affected  Mr.  Bourke's 
busmess,  so  much   so  indeed,  that  emigration  from 
the  isle  of  sorrow  was  suggested,  and  acc(^pted  as  the 
only  means  of  affording  his  young  family  that  present 
care  and  future  prospect,  which  Ids  heart  prompted 
hmi  to  give  them.     In  1850, Mr.  Eourke  and  his  fam- 
ily  arrived  in  ^'ew  York,  and  commenced  the  world 
anew.     His  days  were  spent  in  providing  the  means 
ot  physical  sustenance  for  his  children,  his  evenin^r 
hMsure  hours  to  the  imparting  of  such  literary  aliment 
to  them  as  his  early  habits  enabled  him  to  bestow     At 
the  end  of  two  years,  lie  had  ac(juired  a  modest  compe- 
tency, when  the  failing  health  of  his  wife  demanded  im- 
mediate removal ;  and  the  family,  leaving  Kew  Yoi-k 
settled  in  8t.  Johns,  iXewfoundland,  to  commence  lifj 
lor  the  third  time.     Mr.  Bourke's  attention  and   in- 
dustry produced  their  inevitable  reward,  and  he  had 


J 


COtONEL  THOMAS  PBANns   notTUKB.  125 

gave  «  a,) ,  u  1,1  „  elmnj;,.  „-„i„  becino  iu.c,.s»,„-y    After 

to  loionto,  Cunmlft  West,  where  a  8uccc«rf„l  nUtWo 
a  memberof  the  Provincial  X'arlia„u.„t  re.  I  I  ' 

Meanwhile  Tl.cnas  Francis  had  not  been  illc     II„ 
md  put  hi,  l,ana  to,  and  became  skilled  hU.ftH,  ,  - 
business,  so  much  so,  that  he  was  per     t  «rtot  ^^ 
'onlnsown  responsibilities."     Ill  bent  h      st    «7o 

n.an,,  independence  tbrlS.tt  a~:    "2^ 
he  nobly  contributed  to  the  family  f„„d  i  tIJ    . 
tts  fi.ther's  health  continued  to  b'rcl    h     ^X^ 

n  1858  he  became  helpless,  and  thenceforth  we  are 
told  the  entire  support  of  father,  mother,  three^ister! 
and  a  boy  brotlier,  devolved  soljly  on  the  sZt         ! 

:fthf:ke;r  r'^  ^--'-  y-t  «::":!•: 

01   this  sketch,  who   remitted  his   bank  cheque   to 
Canada  with  the  regularity  of  Saturday  ni.d.t's^^cces 
Bion     At  length  the  father  died,  and  LliTig  o„   t It 
pretty  little  cottage  in  the  suburbs  of  Torento  Jfr 
Bourke  and   her  children  removed  to  nITyo^' 
Here    he  girls,  now  approaching  womanhood  found 
wo*  tor  their  industrious  fingerX  and  relicv^  Zr 
brother  in  part,  of  the  bui-dou  he  had  so  loyally  and 
ovingly  borne.      The  family    became    very    L"v 
oge  her,  and  Mr.  M.  J.  Ileffernan,  to  whom  w"''^ 
indebted  tor  many  of  the  facts  hore  narrated,  gives  u' 
a  graphic  and  touching  view  of  the  sayings  A;f  doin^ 


126 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


was  a 


in  their  111! mble  but  happy  home.     He  says  it  ^ 

gi-eat  treat  to   tlicir   few    and  select  friends  to  visit 
them  of  an  evpniiio;.     "  Poor  Tom  came  in  from  his 
day's  work,  witli  Jiis  pleasant  smile  and  liis  clieery 
hiuo-h,  and  his  little  sister  picked  up  her  books  and 
slate   and  made  way  for  Tom  to  kiss  dear  mother; 
and  then  his  grown  up  sisters  come  in,  and  they  had 
such  welcome  for  each  other  as  though  they  had  been 
all  absent  for  years.     And  then  they  sat  down  to  tea 
m  such  a  jolly  humor,  and  talked  over  old  times,  and 
old  struggles,  and  old  friends,  and  of  the  little  brother 
at  school,  ill  Canada,  under  the  guardianship  of  the 
relative  above  mentioned;  and  when  the  tea  things 
were  removed  they  read  a  while  from  books  of  the'ir 
intelligent  mother's  choosing,  and  from  the  morning 
papers,  which  Tom  was  always  sure  to  fetch  home,  and 
from  some  national  journal,  which  they  received  from 
an  unforgetful  friend  in  the  old  country.     And  then 
they  chatted  a  while,  and  their  fond  mother,  and  one 
of  the  truest  types  of  a  true  mother,  told  them  stories 
of  a  time  and  a  country  which  the   elder   children 
could  not  more  than  remember,  and  which  the  young- 
er ones  never  saw;  and  she  related  passages  of  that 
country's  most  melancholy  history,   and   named  the 
books  in  which  the  episodes  could  be  found,  and  they 
rcad  these  books  as  soon  after  as  possible;  and  she 
told    them   stories  of  wrongs   and   sufferings,  which 
their  race  had  been  made  to  bear,  some  printed  in 
books,  and  some  which  were  printed  nowhere  but  in 
the   burning    memories   of   the   Irish   people.      She 
explained  to  them  how  it  came  about  that  such  a  race 


) 


i 


I 


COLONEL   THOMAS   FR.VNdS   BOmjKE.  127 

had  been  so  abused,  wronged,  degraded  and  despised, 
and  slie  tJiere  and  then  made  Tom  a  Fenian  !  And  as 
tlic  evening  wore  on,  some  friend  paid  a  visit  and 
heard  a  sweet  song  sweetly  snng.  (How  charmingly 
lorn  s  voice  accompanied  those  of  his  beloved  sisters  i) 
^  o  silly  rhodomontade,  bnt  tlie  real  thing-^  Cus/da  Gal 
Mackre,'  and  'Who  fears  to  speak  of  J^^inety-eight 2' 
And,  dear,  oh  dear,  how  poor  Tom  could  sin<^— 

♦The  Green,  O,  the  Green,  'tis  the  color  of  the  truel' 

And  then  bed-time  came,  and  the  favored  visitor 
having  gone,  this  thrice  happy  little  household  knelt 
down  together  to  mingle  their  responses  in  the  Rosary 
and  offer  an  united  prayer  for  the  repose  of  the  soul 
oi  he  dead  lather.  And  then  they  retired  for  the 
li.ght,  under  the  shield  of  God's  special  protection- 
tJns  Irish  ^^ndow  and  her  Irish  children,  with  their 
hearts  full  of  Irish  virtue  and  Irish  love  » 

After  an  absence  of  three  or  four  years,  Bourke  re- 
turned to  ISew  York,  about  M^y,  1865.  In  some  re- 
B].cc  s  he  was  greatly  developed.  His  natural  abilities 
had  been  expanded  by  experience  with  tlie  world  but 
his  constitution,  never  strong,  was  radically  impaired 
However,  he  promptly  set  to  work,  and  soon  his  quick 
iiitelhgence  was  rewarded  by  the  position  of  foreman 
in  one  of  the  largest  painting  firms  in  the  city,  with  a 
Jiandsome  salary.  "^ 

^  The  Fenian  Brotherhood  had  received  a  wonderful 
impetus  during  the  war.  The  development  of  Iri.li 
eluiracter  and  bravery,  as  illustrated  by  Corcomi,  at 
hullhun,  ^  prisoner  of  war    and  subsequently,  in 


k-n 


128 


FENIAN   ITEEOES   AND   MAETYE3. 


^r 


commmid  of  the  InVli  Legion  ;  l3y  MiilligaTi,  in  his  fa- 
mous dofoiK'c  of  Lexington  ;  by  Meaglicr  and  tlie  Irish 
Ih'igado;  hy  Shields,  wlio  ont-man(rnvred  and  defeated 
Stonewall  Jaeksou ;  by  Bryan,  who  fell  at  the  head  of 
his  regiment  at  Port  Hudson ;  by  Cass  and  his  "  Irish 
l^Jinth"  of  Massachusetts ;  by  Guiney,  who  succeeded 
him,  and  by  Byrnes  and  his  twenty-eighth  of  the  same 
State;  by  Caliill  and  his  Connecticut  Irishmen;    by 
Lawlor,  of  Kentucky;  IVrcGroarty,  of  Oliio;  Thomas 
Smythe,  of  Delaware ;  Matthew  Murphy,  James  E.  Mc- 
Mahon,  James  P.  Melvor,  and  many  others,  had  a  very 
powerful  eiiect  on  the  Fenian  organization.     This  was 
augmented  by  the  action  of  England  during  the  war; 
and  the  expectation  that  hostilities  between  the  United 
States  and  tlie  former,  would  give  the  Irish  soldier  a 
chance  to  strike  at  his  old  enemy,  brought  ligiit  and 
comfort  on  many  a  weary  march,  and  nerved  him  to 
survive  all  difficulties,  in  view  of  the  h)ng  exi)ected  day 
of  retril)ution.     This  hope  caused  Eenianism  to  s])read 
rapidly,  as  well  in  the  army  as  out  of  it.    The  military 
enthusiasm,  bred  of  ex])erience  and  the  self-reliance  it 
creates,  thus  infused  into  the  organization,  gave  it  great 
hopes  and  vitality. 

On  Bourke's  return  to  JSTew  York,  he  found  many  of 
his  associates,  both  soldiers  and  Fenians,  anxious  to'i)ut 
the  knowledge  of  the  former  into  the  cause  of  tlie  hit  to  •. 
With  the  teaching  of  his  good  mother,  under  the  shel- 
ter of  the  Eepublic;  with  the  memories  of  British  be- 
nevolence to  Ireland,  in  the  shape  of  fnniinc,  fever- 
sheds  and  oppression,  it  was  not  difficult  to  enb'st  him 
in  the  great  old  cause,  with  the  older  name.     His  syin- 


/ 


f 


j;  i 


OOI.ONEr.  TirOMAS  IfEANCIS  BOTTBKE.  Jog 

ratbies  once  aroimod,  Bo„rIcc's  every  energy  foll„wc,l 

the  8a,nedn.eetio„.     C„„se,,„c„tly,  with'),!,,  ,„«iti,3 

tale,,te  and  manly  attributcB,  hk  i„-i,lo  of  n|„.H,tnosI 

Ton  IT  f  ^''^^'^'R"'  '^«  r.Ken.pidly  i,i  th c  estin.a- 
K,„  .  „s  bretl„.on  of  tl.o  AVolfc  Tone  Circle,  wl.ich 
he  had  jomed.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  thh-d 
J<.Uional  Congress,  held  at  Philadelphia,  (Oct.  1805) 
and  strenuonsly  strove  to  prevent  the  change  in  ho 

House  oi  Delegates  into  the  organization.  His  effort, 
however,  were  not  snceessfnl ;  hi,t  the  ability  and  intu! 
::  r  ""f  '"  «- d*'tes,i„whieh  heparticipat i 
vveic  not  lost  upon  the  anthorities  then  controlling  the 
i.  otherliood,  and  on  his  return  to  New  York  hc^wia 
selected  as,  and  rc.nested  to  accept  the  position  of,  „" 
ganizer  for  the  Histriet  of  Manhattan. 

Thomas  lionrke  at  once  gave  up  his  excellent  em- 
ployment,  and  entered  on  that  path  of  destiny  which 
he  was  so  we  1  httcd  to  distinguish.  A  naturaf  orator, 
with  that  useful  edneafon  which  is  always  eft'eetivei; 
leady,  beeause  self^acqnired ;  with  a  clear,  pleasant 
voice,  and  a  manner  not  less  fervid  because  graceful 
and  easy  Bonrke  .p.ickly  n.ade  hin.self  felt  in  his  new 

.to  >t,  and  brought  home  to  the  minds  of  his  heare,;  the 
eterhng  convictions  which  animated  his  own     His  sin 
cerity  and  earnestness  were  strongly  indi,.ated  by  his 
words  and  manner,  and  gave  assurance  of  unquestiona- 
l)le  patriotism  and  nature's  nobility. 

At  the  time  liourko  became  organizer,  there  were 
some  seventy  circles,  with  ten  tlionsand  members,  in 


130 


FEiNIAN    IIEllOES    AND   MARTYlig. 


the   Stuto   of   Kow   York.      In    two   moiitlM   of   liia 
preaclimg"   as   lie  iisod  to  call  it,  New  Y„rk  city 
alone   had    one   liuiulred  and  four  circles  and   .hirty 
tiiousand   inend)ers   in    "jroed    standin  .-."      At    the 
division  iTi  the  Fenian  ranks  he  reniaim>d  with  the 
parent   oro-anization ;   was  a  dele-ate  to   the   Fourth 
J^ational  Congress,  JMew  York,  January,   18(10,  which 
abohslied  the  Presidency  and  Senate,  and  reinstated  tlie 
old  const itntion  ;  and  was  nnaninionsly  elected  J)istrlct 
Centre  tor  the  District  of  ]\ranhattaTi,  which  end,raced 
tlie   Counties   of    JSV-w    York,    Westchester,    Kin-rs 
Queens,  Suffolk  and  liichmond,  in  tlie  State  of  Ninv' 
lork,  and  Comitv  of  JJndson,  in  the  State  of  JMew 
Jersey.     His  days  were  taken  np  with  incessant  labor 
HI  his  ofhce  on  the  grornd  fioorof  the  celebrated  head- 
quarters, opposite  Union  Sqnare,  while  his  nights  were 
not  less  laboriously  devoted  to  visiting  the  circles 

The  spring  of  1800  was  looked  forward  to  by  the 
grea^   body   of  the   Fenians   with   a   sort     -f  restless 
expectant   enthusiasm.     It  was  hoped  that  the  risino- 
m  Ireland  was  close  at  hand,  and  the  government  of 
the  I^emans  in  i\ew  York  purchased  and  fitted  out 
Its  first  vessel  for  the  looked-for  Irish  crisis      When 
tins   was  effected,  Bourke's  heart   became  lightened 
Contemplating    the    prospect    of    active    service,  he 
exclaimed,  "Thank  God,  for  I  am  tired  of  preach  in.vl" 
He  was  determined  to  go  with  the  vessel,  in  strivhio- 
to  dissuade  him  from  which,  Col.  O'Maliony,  the  Head 
Centre,  said: 

"Why,  jou   can  be  of  no  use  yet,  you  are  not  a 
sailor. 


f 


1 


COLONEL   TnOMAB   FRANCIS   BOTJRKE. 


131 


f 


i 


1 


"Ko  niiittei-,"  said  lioiirkc,  "I  am  resolved  to  go, 

and  you    nunst   let    me.     Thei-e  is  snnily   Bometiiiug 

that  r  can  do,  1  can  keej)  aceoiiiits  for  the  paymaster." 

"  Very   well,    then,"   said   the   Head   Centre,    "be 

paymaster  yourself." 

"  TJiardc  you,  sir,"  said  Bourke. 
On  that   day,  Bourke   resigned   his   District   Cen- 
treship,  hut  he  did  not  sail  for  Ireland  then.     Other 
divisions  following  the  Campo  Bello  adventure,  proved 
disastrous   to   the  plans   of   the    brotherhood.      But 
neither  the  faith    nor  the  perseverance   of   Bourke 
was  shaken.     He   may  have  been   disgusted,  but  he 
was   not   disheartened.      On    the    arrival   of   James 
Stephens,  Bourke  again  undertook  the'  continuance  of 
those  labors    in  which  he  had  been  so  wearied  and 
so  j?uccessful,  and  throughout  the  sunnner  he  remained 
at  his  post,  making  tours  of  organization,  and  assist- 
ing   Mr.    Stophc!ns   in    his    attempt    to    rebuild   the 
comparatively    shattered    fabric   ot    Fenian  ism.      He 
liad  set  his  heart  too  largely  on  the  matter  not  to  see 
fui'thor  into  it.     He  had  labored  too  zealously  not  to 
seek  with  his  own  eyes  a  result.     In  the  Winter,  he 
begged  his  mother's  blessing,  received  it  in  the  manner 
he  so  proudly  alludes  to  in  his  speech  in  the  dock,  and 
started,  hoping  to  aid  or  make  an  opportunity  whereby 
the  leaders  of  the  Fenian  movement  might  vindicate 
their  ])romises. 

The  same  friend,  quoted  above,  Mr.  Heffernan, 
gives  a  very  gra[)hic  sketch,  not  only  of  Col.  Bourke's 
appearance  before  he  started,  but  of  the  views  wln'ch 
inspired  him   to   such   a  course.     This  is  peculiarly 


132 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


P 


"itcrostiTiic,  and  cxliiMf.  in  a  marlcod  mnnncr  tl.o 
couiprol.cnsivo  views  of  dnty,  as  well  as  of  faith,  <.row. 
mg  out  of  a  dear  liead  and  a  fivsli  heart. 

"I    inet   liini,"  says  Mr.  lleil-ernan,   «t],o  exomn^ 
before  he  started  for  Irehmd.     His  bright,  intenio-ont 
iace  was  pale  and  snnken,  and  his  dark,  penetratin.. 
ejes  gleamed  with  the   addit-r   :  'nstre 'of  a  viole:^ 
fover      Ills  soft,  persuasive  vc.      iiad  a  deeper  tone, 
>vhich  he  tried  to  make  as  eheerful  as  he  could,  but  he 
was  sick— very,  very  sick,  and  everj  muscle  quivered, 
with  yam      Ilis  health,  never  very  robust,  had  beo-un 
to  fail  early  in  the  summer,  just  about  a  year  ago, 
and  at  the  time   of  his  departure,   his  buoyant  and 
iiappy  spirit  commenced   to  succumb  to   the   disease 
which   liad  slowly   but   too    surely    undermined   his 
constitution.     His  ringing  laugh  was  growing  mx)re 
moistened,  so    to  speak,  every  day,  and  there  were 
moments   when  his  countenance  wore  that  sad    half 
sorrowful,  half  resigned  expression,  peculiar  to  those 
wiio  /eel  that  tlieir  days  are  not  long  in  the  land 
1  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  going  to  Ireland  then, 
because  I  knew  that  his  declining  physical  strencvth 
would  not  permit  of  his  nnderg.  -ug  a  military  c^nn- 
paign.   ^  In  order  further  to  prevail  on  him  to  abandon 
his   design,  I  taunted  liim  that  his   only  motive  in 
going  to   Ireland  must  be  the   desire  to  redeem  his 
character  from  the  stain  that  bad  men  would  try  to 
fasten  iij.on  it,  on  account  of  his  persistent  adherence 
to  Mr.  Stephens  while  he  conducted  the  affairs  of  tlie 
±enian  brotherhood  in  New  York. 

"*  There,' said  the  gallant  fellow,  *  you  evince  tlie 


COLONEL  TiroMAS  FEANCIS  BOTOKE.  133 

...Islukon  „„ti„„,  peculiar  to  those  wl.o  Imvc  not 
stu,l,„  tl„,  ,iuc.stio,i  in  all  its  l,«.rin,i,^.  Tlie  p.-osorva. 
t'o..  of  ...y  l,»„or  is  l,„t  one  (and  it  ia  tho  least 
i'"|;"rt.nt)  .„„Mve,  wl.iel,  i,„,,el3  ,„e  to  the  course 
wlncii  I  am  al.cut  to  take,  and  wl.iclil  should  Bpcedily 
aha„,l„„  wen,  there  no  higher  principle  at  Btake.     lii 

Iv/  I       ',     "•'  *\'"'''  ""'  "'"•"  ""'t  t''«  movement 
vnll  he  ahorfve.     Providence  ,na,y  throw  the  neces- 
Bjiry  udvantaijes  in  our  favir,  and  where  there  is  even 
the  fri.ost  „t  a  chance,  tho  present  desperate  state  of 
a  hurs  dcnian.ls   that   wo  sh.,ul,l  ruu  the  risk-.     But 
a  IcnnuK  tl,e  hnpossihility  of  our  attaiuiuf;  the  great 
ohjeet  of  our  hves  at  present, a  'rising'  in  Irelan,!  now 
cmnot  be  otherwise  tlum  a  success,  for  it  is  indispen- 
sable to  the  veiy  life  of  tho  cause.     Lot  us  see  how  the 
case  stands.     You  know,  as  well  as  I  do,  that  the  only 
bope  of    Ireland's  redeuiptiou   rests  with  the  'Irish 
Nation   ,u   America,'  an,l  you   know  t],at  that  now 
nation  has  tlie  will  aud  the  power  to  make  Ireh.nd'8 
freclon,   a   eertah.ty.     You  know   that  so  far  from 
proving  tins  deetrine  to  be  fallacious,  tlie  ill-directed 
and   ba,]ly  managed   Fenian   Brotherhood   has  fully 
domonstrated  what  an  iinmouse  power  this  new  Irish 
nation   might   be   under  honest  an.l   able    guidance. 
>  .111  know,  that  11,  proper  hands,  it  could  tear  Ireland 
Iron,   the  muted  grasp  of  all  Euro],o.     But  to  be  of 
any  use  whatever,  in  tliat  .-irection,  it  is  absolutely 
KH«ss..i,y   that   a  clear  niid..,standnig    should    exis^ 
l-tw.'m  the  Irish  exiles  here,  and  the  pahiots  who 
may  stiU  remain  on  their  native  soil.     They  should 
regard  each  other  with  more  than  brotherly  L-e,  and 


134 


( 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MAETYE8. 


above  all,  they  must  have  a  firm  faith  in,  and  rcllaiico 
upon,  each   other.     It   matters  not   now   from   what 
cause,  but  that  feeling  of  mutual  ftiitli  and  relianco 
grows   weaker  and   weaker   every  day.     It  must  bo 
re-inspired  and  strengthened   at  any  cost,  or  eftbctivo 
work   for  Ireland  will  be  rendered  impossible.     The 
injudicious  course  hitherto  pursued  by  Mr.  Stephens 
has  left  the  men  at  home  under  a  strong  impression 
tliat  they  have  been  abandoned  by  their  brothers  in 
America.     If  we  allow   that   impression   to   remain, 
tliey  will  never  trust  us  again,  and  then  good-bye  to 
all  hope  for  Ireland !    It  must,  I  say,  be  removed  at  any 
cost !     Now,  who  is  to  remove  it  ?     The  wily  enemy 
is  now  at  work,  in  press  and  pulpit,  aided  "by  many 
an  '  Irish  patriot'  (God  bless  the  hearers !)  to  weaken 
the   faith   of  the  people,  here  and  at  home,  in  their 
leaders — to    prove   that  these  leaders   have,    through 
sordid  and  other  unworthy  motives,  led  their  confiding 
followers  into  a  trap,  and  then  abandoned  them.     It 
n-.ust  be  confessed  that  the  conduct  of  Stephens  has 
given  this  villainous  slander  a  very  plausible  appear- 
ance  of   truth.      He,   having    made  that    disastrous 
pledge,  should  have  redeemed  it  with  his  life.     His 
failure  or  f  )lly  must  completely  demoralize  the  people, 
if  it  be  not  counteracted.    It  mnsthe.    Kelley,  llalpin, 
M'Caff'erty,   and   the   rest   of  us — 'his   associates   in 
crime,'  as  we  are  Innocently  called — must  prove  to  the 
people  at  home  that  their  lives  and  liberties  are  not 
trifled  with  by  the  Irishmen  of  America.     ^Ye  must 
prove  to  them  that  we  are  in  earnest— that  we  ai-o 
ready  to  pour  out  our  life-blood,  not  only  to  give  them 


^1 


f 


'I 


i 


COLONRT,   Tiro^rAS   FRANCIS   iJOTJIsKE.  I35 

freedom,  l)nt   even   to  save  the  cininon  cause  from 
B  lutne   ami  dislionor.      We   ]iave   Juid  the   name   of 
leaders,'    and  it    devolves  upon   us   to  give  tiie  lie 
dn-ect  to  those  who  would  but  too  gladly  say  to  Irish- 
men:   'Your  leaders  betray  you;    beware' how  you 
trust   them     again.'      Mutual   trust   and   conhdence, 
between  the  Irish  in  Ireland  and  the  Irish  in  America 
and   between   the  people  and  their  leaders  must  be 
restored.     When  that  is  done,  the  game  can  be  played 
over  again,  with  all  the  advantages  on  our  side  of 
havmg  seen  the  enemy's  hand.     To  be  sure,  it  will 
cost  some  hundreds  of  lives,  but  h  will  be  well  worth 
the  purchase.     The  blood  of  her  children  is  the  only 
commodity  in  ^vhich  poor  old  Ireland  is  rich       *       '<• 
But  it  may  be  objected  that  in  ruining  ourselves  and 
those  who  depend  on  us,  we  have  no  moral  ricvht  to 
involve  the  destruction  of  hundreds  of  good  m"  n  in 
Ireland,  who  may  follow  us  into   danger  and  death 
I  am   aware  that  quite  a  number  of  tender-hearted 
patriots'  would  take  this  high  ground  just  now,  and 
they  would  be  perfectly  right  if  those  on  whom  they 
lavish   then-   cheap    compassion    were   of  the    same 
opmion,  which,  unfortunately  for  that  merciful  aro-n- 
ment,  they   are   not.     It  would,   no  doubt,  be  very 
pleasant  lor  those,  whose  malignant  tongues  and  pens 
are  already  prepared  to  vituperate  us  in  any  case,  to  bo 
able   to   say   that   we   '  draff ff.,P   our  poor,  ignorant 
countrymen  to  perdition,  unshriven  and  unnrepared 
111  order  to  redeem  our  own  characters,  or^  tlu-oucdi 
some   other   less   creditable,   personal   motive.      The 
tacts,  however,  of  which  we  trust  to  you  to  o-ive  a 


136 


FENIAN  lIEnOES   AND  MAnTVlJS. 


pUm  statcmon  ,  at  tho  proper  thno,  will  ,„t,er]y  h.lio 
sdW.  c,msuIcrat,o„   whatever,  or  even  tl,at  iLZ 

tli.it  wil.m  the  past  two  mouths  wo  have  recoivca 
Watches  fro,u  every  district  in  Ireland,  all  b" 
the  same  bm-don-all  chorusing  the  .an  o  tuue-ali  • 
beseeclung  us  to  go  to  them  at  onee,  no  mat  c   win 
moans  we  possessed,  and  help  them    o  fl,"  Uh   "oo 
fi^ht,  wh,eh  they  would  inm.ediately  iuauRura     ,vW^ 
o«:  ns  .n  ease  we  failed  to  bo  at  tlu.ir  head      If     e 

1.1.  m  Jinieiiea.      What  will  betio  result «    The 
men  at  homo  will  never  trust  ns  a..,i„  and  tho,,  t 
>-epcat,  farewell  to  Iri.h  Kegenorationl    The     nit  "^o 
are>.««^  this  business;  but,  God  williu..-    f  t,l' o 

as  I  im  in  1,  1  »"  to  -iieland— teeble  and  prostrate 
Ir  w  ,  ^'  ^  "'"•"  S"  '»  I'-"'"'"!,  .•vnd  wore  I 
tt  fhM  o  TT'f ;','""°''  *''^  "^'''^'  I  ^''='"  "o  in 

e  u  e^o  to  «•"'  *''"  '*'""'^''  "■"""!'''  "^  "'"•l"'!/ 
cause,  go  to   offer  up  our  lives-not   even   for  the 

mnue.hate  eonsuunnation  of  our  dearest  hope  ,,? 
Htrir;*  '•"'"",  "*'  """  •^'^"■"^*  -"I  want'oTtr^^ 

r lo vo  .^  "'°  "';  ""'  *■"'■  *'"=  <=^*--"'l-lm,ent  of 
each  0  W ,  '^r ,f™"'f  !""!  I-'^Uy  forbearance  of 
each  othoi  s  faults  and  fiJlies,  without  which  the 


m 


B 


OOtONEl  TnOMAB  FKANCIS  BOFKKE.  137 

on,-™!'""  T  "!  ""  ""•"•'■«  of  r>"'i«-ati'm,  timt 
on  ca„somHy  bo  clonnsod  fron,  tl,o  poll„tio„  of  i,, 
c  o„.,es-t  ,at  it  ,„ay  bo  liftod  fo,„  tI,o  filtby  slo,,:^ 
to  wl„d.  >t  has  boon  cast,  and  placed  as  l,i,dfbeyond 
ho  toncli  of  tbo  vonal  and  corrupt,  as  it  is  today 
beneath  «.  notice  of  those  wlj  'are  sincere   a^J 

tTnttL  f,-n       ™:.^'.""  ""0  i-on.ai„  behind  to  boo 
that  t  MS  w.lhng  oftonng  is  not  made  in  vain      On 
w.h  the  good  work  I    Begin  over  again,  and  w" 
%Utitowtonthiab-ne!    FarowcUI"  ""won 

He  went  to  give  his  yonng  life  as  an  "  offering  of  pu- 
.ficat.on,"  tor  the  "eradication  of  distrust,"  for°the'el 
^Ahshment  of  mutual  love  and  "kindly  forbearance  " 
xheso  par  u,g  words  of  Colonel  Bonrke,  show  him  to 

st.uek  the  loy-note  of  Irish  success.    He  went  to  a 
saenlico  to  show  others  i,ow  to  go  to  a  success 

In  the  distribution  of  the  district  commands,  Colonel 
Bourko  was  assigned  to  the  Tipperar.v  District.     The 

llaich  ISO.  and  nnder  t!,at  daK,was  issned  from  the 
"Head-Quarters  I.  K.  Army,  Linrerick  Junction,  Ti^ 
S     f"f-"r";F  proclamation,  the  main  char  c- 

to  r  Z    ':  '""  """  '"'"'  "^  *"  «"•  i°  assigning  it 

to  Colonel  Bourke:  ^    ^ 


I, 


Inst  You  w  ,;!!  ^  !  ^  ^"^  ''°"  '"'™  '""S""  '>'"  ^me  at 
an  your  race.  You  „„,a  not  expect  material  aU  from  without 
un  .1  you  laave  si.own  ti.e  friends  of  EepuUioaa  Uterty,  .,y  d  e^^ 
not  worts,  ftat  you  are  worthy  ti.ei,.  sym,,„ii,^-  ^'    ^  '^"'^ 


t 


138 


PENIAN   nEROE3   AND   MARTTRS. 


.;-< 


"  Ton  am  not  bo  wrll  nrmod  aa  yon  mli^'lit  bo,     ♦        ♦        ♦ 
but  you  will  roiucinlK^r  timt  history  nirnisl.cH  no'  InHlanco  of  revo- 
lution,  wl.eii  tho  iiKsui-onlHtook  iho  Udd  as  woll  armed  as  tlioKov- 
eruniont  lorces  opposed  to  them. 

"You  will  carry  on  the  Btru^rglo  for  Irish  Indopcndenco  accord- 
ing to  the  usa-es  of  civilized  warfare  ;  but  whould  the  eaemy  inau- 
.sjnralo  tho  'Blampins  out'  proeess,  o;  .hould  they  insult,  injure  or 
violate  any  of  the  daughters  of  our  Iiuul,  let  then  your  battlo-cry 
oe  war  to  the  knife  I 

"  Comrades  1  tho  eyes  of  tho  world  are  npon  you,  and  thousands 
or  your  brothers  beyond  the  Allanlic,  and  elsewhere,  will  rush  to 
arms,  when  ;.  )m- deeds  proclaim  that  you  are  really  «tho  men  in 
the  gaj). ' 

«♦  Irishmen  I  May  tho  wrongs  and  woes  of  centuries  of  oppression 
and  misrule,  nervo  your  arms  when  you  march  forth  to  combat 
with  tho  flag  of  you  lathers  above  you,  and  tho  light  of  battle  hi 
your  faces." 

TIio  Government  was  prepared  for  the  rising.    It  1 1 ad 
in  its  pay  since  the  September  previous,  tlie  now  noto- 
riously infamous  informer,  John  Joseph  Corydon,  who 
had  been  used  as  a  dcspatcli  messenger  between  tlio 
leaders  on  both  sides  of  tho  Atlantic,  for  nearly  two 
years.     This  Corydon  set  tho  authorities  on  the  track 
of  Patrick  Condon,  alias  Godfrey  Massey,  who  acted 
in  the  capacity  of  traveling  agent,  or  adjiitant-general 
of  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Kelley,  the  acting  C.  O.  I.  H. 
He  became  likewise  an  informer,  and  his^evidence  con- 
victed Bourke,  who  was  captured  at  the  affray  at  Bally- 
luirst  Fort,  near  Tipperary,  on  the  Cth  Marcli.    Bourke's 
graees  of  manner  won  even  the  good-will  of  his  cap- 
tors.^    0,1  his  deportation,  for  tri'al,  to  Did)lin,  Mnjor 
Lind,  of  tho  31st  regiment,  sliook  hands  witli  him,sry. 
mg :  "  Good-hye,  General  Bourke ;  I  wish  you  o-^od 


f 


COLONEL   THOMAS   FRANCIS   IJOFKKE.  I39 

fortune  »  B.nrlco  ivpllorl :  « I  wisli  yo.i  tl.c  Rnrr.o,  Ma- 
.l<»r,  UM(  thunk  yon  lur  tlic  kindiios8  you  Imvo  extended 
to  iru;." 

Tho  Special  Commission  Bat  in  Dublin  on  the  lOtli 
April  when  tho  prisoner,  a-ainst  whom  bills  of  indict- 
ment had  been  found,  were  placed  at  tho  bar,  in  order 
to  receive  the  necessary  notice  of  trial,  and  to  have  conn- 
Bel  assigned  them.    ]iy  direction  of  the  Lord  Chief  Jus- 
t.ce  Ihomas  .1, known  as  "General"  IJourke,  was  tho 
irs  p  aced  at  tho  bar.    II  is  Lordship  then  informed  him 
that  tho  grand  jniy  had  found  bill,  of  indictment  for 
Ingh  treason  against  him  ;  that  lio  was  entitled  to  copies 
ol  tho  indictment,  lists  of  the  jurors,  and  of  the  wit- 
ncsses  against  him;  also,  that  he  woul.l  have  ten  clear 
days  to  consider  his  defence,  and  was  at  liberty  to  namo 
two  counsel,  who  would   bo   assigned   by  tho  court. 
Colonel  liourko  selected  Messrs.  Uiitt  and  Dowjies  as 
his  counsel,  and  Mr.  Lawless  as  his  attorney 
^  The  indictment  found  by  tho  grand  jury,  wliich  con- 
sisted  of  foiu-  counts,  may  be  hero  condensed,  as  it  re- 
fers not  only  to  Bourko,  but  to  other  noted  Fenians 
whose  names  it  preserves,  and  who  will  be  referred  to 
m  subsequent  chapters. 

The  first  count  sets  forth  the  general  charge  against 
he  accused,  as  follows :  "  The  Jurors  for  our  La<ry  tlio 
Queen,  upon  their  oath  and  atlirmation,  do  say  and  i)re- 
sent,  tliat  lliomas  Boiirke,  (otherwise  called  Thomas  F 
Lourke,)  John  M'Cafferty,  (otherwise  called  William 
Jncksoii,)  Edward  Duffy,  John  Flood,  (otherwise  called 
John  Phillips,)  Patrick  Meares,  Patrick  Doran,  Georgo 
Connolly,  (otherwise  called  Francis  Connolly,)  JarleSi 


140 


FENIAN  HEE0E8  AND  MAETTES. 


Mooney,   Henry    Filgate,    Thomas    Joseph  •William 
Clarke,  John  Hughes,  Joseph  Wheelan,  Christopher 
Byrne,  Luke  Fullam,  Laurence  Fullam,  James  Gor- 
man, Terence  Kelly,  and  John  Beirne,  being  subjects 
of  our  said  Lady  the  Queen,  not  regarding  the  duty  of 
their  allegiance,  nor  having  the  fear  of  God  in  tlieir 
hearts,  but  being  moved  and  seduced  by  the  instiga- 
tion of  the  devil,  as  false  traitors  against  our  said  Lady 
the  Queen,  and  wholly  withdrawing   the  allegiance, 
fidelity  and  obedience,  which  every  true  and  faithful 
subject  of  our  said  Lady  the  Queen  should  and  of  right 
ought  to  bear  towards  our  said  Lady  the  Queen,  to  wit, 
on  the  11th  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-six,  and  on  divers 
other  days,  as  well  before  as  after  that  day,  to  wit,  at 
the  Parish  of  St.  Peter,  in  the  County  of  Dublin,  mali- 
ciously and  traitorously,  together  with  divers  other  false 
traitors,  to  the  jurors  aforesaid  unknown,  did  compass, 
imagine,  devise  and  intend  to  depose  our  said  Lady  the 
Queen  from  the  royal  state,  title,  power  and  govern- 
ment of  this  realm,  and  from  the  style,  honor  and  king- 
ly  name  of  the  Imperial  Crown  thereof,  and  to  bring 
and  jput  mtT  said  Lady  the  Queen  to  death;  and  the 
said  treasonable  compassing,  imagination,  device  and 
intention,  maliciously  and  traitorously  did  express,  ut- 
ter, declare  and  evince,  by  divers  overt  acts  and  deeds 
hereinafter  mentioned,  that  is  to  say,  in  order  to  fulfil' 
perfect  and  bring  to  effect  their  most  evil  and  wicked 
treason  and  treasonable  compassing,  imagination,  de- 
vice and  intention  aforesaid,  they,  the  said  Thomas 
Bourke,  etc.,  as  such  false  traitors  as  aforesaid,  after- 


^ , J 


COLOHEL  THOMAS  FEAKCIS   BOtTEKE.  54, 

wards    to  wit,  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  i„  the  year 
oi  ou    Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 

day  in  tiie  United  States  of  America,  did  eonspire,  con- 
-dt     o„,e„t  and  agree  with   James  Stephens,  John 
O  Maho.^,  Colonel  Kelly,  General  Cluseret,  Doran 
Kdhan  James  J.  Rogers,  General  Mullen,  General  Vif 
q.^m,  General  Fariola,  General  Condon,  CoW  IQ^n 

M  •     A"'A    ^^""'"^  ^•"""'  «»1™«1  Patrick  Leonard 
Major  O'Dowd,  Captain  McOlure,  Captain  FitzlZ'is 
Captam    Gleeson,  Captain  Burke,. clptain  O'Brien 
Major  Delahunt  Captain  Kolan,  CaptL  Bible  g1 
an  Ilennessy,  Captain  Mackay,  Captain  Decle  Cao 
tarn  Moran,  Captain  Dunn,  Capkin'^O'Keill  cit 
Joyee,  Captam  Corrigan,  Captain  Doheny    CaotZ 
G.bbons  Captain  Murtagh,  and  divers  orel'faS 
ors,  to  the  jurors  aforesaid  unknown,  to  move  and   tt 
eertam  foreigners  and  stra„gei-s,  to  wit,  certain  cut  ns 
of  the  United  S  ates  of  America,  and  persons  residen 
m  Ameriea,  witli  force  and  arms,  to  invade  that  pir 
of  lie  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
caled  Ireland.    And  fnrther  to  fuliil,  perfect  and  S"^ 
o  their  most  wicked  treason  and  treasonable  eomna  s 
ng,  imagination,  device  and  intention  aforesamTev 
he  said  Thomas  Bourke,  etc.,  as  such  talse  traitotls 
aforesaid,  afterwards,  to  wit,  on  the  llth  day  of  Feb 
uary,  m  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hun. 
rod  and  sixty-seven,  and  on  divei-s  otiierdaysta    wd 
before  as  after  that  day,  maliciously  and  tiai  oro  si  ' 
chd  make  divers  journeys,  and  did  go  into  that  pa     J^ 
her  Majesty's  dominions  called  Finland,  and,  to  wit 


142 


FENIAN  HEE0E8   AND  MARTYE8. 


I  ■ 


at  Cliester,  in  tlie  shire  of  Cheshire,  did  collect  and 
bring  together  a  great  nnmber  of  false  traitors,  to 
the  nnmber  of  three  thinisand,  in  order  to  raise  rebellion 
and  insurrection  therein,  and  to  seize  on,  take,  and 
carry  away  a  qnantity  of  guns,  pistols  and  other  mili- 
tary weapons,  the  property  of  her  Majesty,  wherewith 
they  might  the  better  arm  themselves,  and  fight  against 
the  troops  and  soldiers  of  our  said  Lady  the  Queen." 

The  next  section  of  the  first  count  charges  that  the 
accused  did  conspire  with  the  persons  named,  and  other 
false  traitors,  to  raise,  levy  and  make  insurrection,  re- 
bellion and  war  against  the  Queen,  and  "  with  fore© 
and  arms,  at  the  Parish  of  Tallaght,  in  the  County  of 
Dublin,  mah'ciously  and  traitorously  did  anu  them- 
selves with,  and  bear  and  carry  certain  weapons,  that 
is  to  say,  guns,  pistols  and  pikes,  with  intent  to  asso- 
ciate themselves  with  divers  other  false  traitors,  armed 
witli  guns,  pistols  and  pikes,  whose  names  are  to  tli© 
Eaid  jurors  unknown,  for  tlie  purpose  of  raising,  levy- 
ing and  making  public  ineurrection,  rebellion  and  war 
against  our  said  Lady  the  Queen^  and  of  committing 
and  perpetrating  a  cruel  slaughter  of  and  amongst  tha 
faithful  subjects  of  our  said  Lady  the  Queen,  within 
this  realm." 

The  subsequent  sections  charge  the  prisoners  with 
having  attacked  the  police  at  Glencullen,  Stepaside. 
Ivilmallock,  Ballyknockane,  Ballyhurst  and  Drogheda. 

The  second  count  repeats  the  same  ovei^t  acts  as  In 
the  first  count,  omitting  the  words  "  being  subjects  of 
our  Lady  the  Queen,  not  regarding  the  duty  of  their 
allegiance,"  and  the  words  "  whally  withdrawing  tlid 


I 


S« 


/ 

^f 


I 


COLONEL    THOMAS    FEANCI3   BOTTEKE.  I43 

allegiance   fidelity  and  obedienee  which   every  true 
and  totl,t„   suhiect  of  our  said  Lady  the  Queen  shouW 

Queet"  ""*'      *"  '"'"■  *°'™''''  ""'■  ^''l  ^^'^y  "'« 

The  third  count  charges  that  the  accused  and  others 

4d  traitorously  assemble  and  make  war  against  the 

Queen  m  the  County  Dubhn;  and  the  fourth  aga^ 

,, or  "  /       >'-  f  *^  "'^"'"^  *°  *'"'  ""-ok  upon  the 
pohce  barracks  at  Glencullen,  etc.,  where  the  aceusel 

ani  didT     ^^Z"^^™-!™^  -  a  warlike  manner, 
and  did    hen  and  there  make  a  warlike  attack  upo.^ 
and  fire  a   a  body  of  constables,  then  and  there  lawful- 
y  assembled  m  the  due  execution  of  their  duty,  and 
then  and  there  did  make  a  warlike  attack  upon^a  cer- 
tam  dwelhng-house  and  barrack,  in  which  divers  con- 
.tables  of  her  Majesty  then  were,  and  did  call  on  and 
demand  said  constables  to  snrrender  to  the  Irish  Ee- 
pubhc  and  did  fire  upon  said  constables,  and  th  n  dhl 
compel  the  said  constables  to  surrender  he  said  W 
to  them,  the  said  traitors." 
In  the  list  of  witnesses  to  be  produced  by  the  Crown 

day,  the  24th  of  April,  when  the  trial  of  the  Fenian 
prisoners  would  proceed  tbrthwith,  were  the  folhW 
persons  connected  with  the  United  States  of  Ame     a 

Otheis:  Patrick  Condon,  otherwise  called  Godfrey 
M  sey,  formerly  a  colonel  in  the  Confederate  Army 
Ot  tlie  Sou  hern  States  of  Kortli  America ;  aiterwarik  I 
oaavasser  for  »  commercial  house  in  Ne^  Orleal"     d 


>T 


144 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MAETYES. 


!  f, 


at  present  no  occupation;    formerly  Phelan's  coffee- 
house,^ at  I^ew  Levee,  in  tlie  city  of  New  Orleans, 
America ;  afterwards  Tavistock  street,  in  the  county 
of  Middlesex,  in  England,  and  now  the  office  of  the 
MetroiDolitan  Police,  Lower  Castle  Yard,  county  of  the 
city  of  Dublin.     John   Joseph  Corydon,  formerly  a 
lieutenant  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  at 
•  present  no  profession  ;  late  the  Commercial  Hotel,  Is- 
lington, Liverpool,  in  England,  and  now  the  station  of 
the  Metropolitan  Police,  Chancery  lane,  county  of  the 
city  of  Dublin.     John  Devany,  formerly  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  establishment  in  ]^ew  York,  and  at  present 
no  profession ;  late  Eidge  street,  New  York,  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  now  the  station  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police,  Chancery  lane,  county  of  the  city 
of  Dublin. 

The  trial  commenced  on  the  24th  of  April.     The 
following  evidence  was  elicited  j 

It  was  proved  by  one  Edward  Brett,  a  servant 
of  Mr.  James  Bartel,  of  Thomastown,  that  having 
been  sent  for  bread  on  the  morning  of  the  6tli  March, 
lie  was  stopped  on  his  return,  and  from  statements 
.  made  to  him  he  brought  tlie  bread  to  Ballyliurst  Fort, 
■where  Bourke,  who  was  lame,  distributed  it  among 
the  men.  Sub-inspector  Wm.  Kelly,  who  had  seen 
Bourke  in  the  month  previous,  described  him  as  "  a 
man  with  a  broken  up  constitution,  and  not  capable 
of  much  physical  exertion. 

William  Wood  worth,  color-sergeant  31st  Regiment,  examined: 
I  -was  stationed  at  Tipperary,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  March 
last.     I  went  out  with  about  sixtj  men  to  Ballyhurst  ForW    I  sa^r 


COLONEL  TH0MA8  FEAMCI8  BOUKKE.  145 

«  largo  number  of  men  emerging  from  it  iu  twos  and  threes     As 

;:w"r:  '1  'T'""  ™ "™ «'""  "p-"  "^  ■"-  -  ^^  fo^ 

i  «i>v  a  .mglo  horeeman  in  the  fort.    lie    moved  away  in  an 

°  Xid  ;r  T"'" '"" '"' '" '""  ""*•  ^  '•^  ~'"  «w " 

Hquu-c.  and  Dickens  were  under  my  command.     With  me  thev 
Z  W?tf?^'"''''^  I'"™'''-^''-'  person  as  Z^ 

Wm.  RcLerts,  oolor-scrge.ant  81st,  deposed  that  he  searched  the 

meuts  In  the  poeket-book  was  inscribed  tlie  following  oath  ■ 
'  In  he  presence  of  Ahnighty  God,  I  solemnly  swear  th„°  I  w  li 

colfort  rr°"'"''' "''^™-^"^  »^'  Slve  information,  aid™ 
contfo,  to  the  enemies  of  the  Irish  Republic,  until  regularly 
reheved  of  this  obligation.  So  help  me  God."  The  two  S 
ments  were  lists  of  names. 

On  cross-examination  the  witness  stated  that  the  man  on  horse- 
back was  three  hnndred  yards  away  from  him  when  the  mel 
fired,  and  that  at  that  distance  he  could  not  recognize  him 

Another  acconnt,  written  oa  anthority,  varies  little 
f  cm  tl.o  depositions  on  the  trial,  but  sufficient  to  n-ive 
Lonrke  tuU  credit  for  the  position  in  which  he  was  Ip- 

therl  n,1  T''    7^'"  ''""''  °'  *'>«  '''''  ^^'"''l'  -"^^'^ 
tie  e  u,  ,Ier  Major  I,ynd,  did  not  at  first  fire  a  single 

Bhot  l„it  charged  up  a  hill  against  the  Fenian  insur- 

Sents    intemliiig  to   attack  tliem   ,vitli  the  bayonet 

Ihe  latter  bolted  away,  a.id  the  soldiers,  after  a  Ion. 

rm.  after  them,  saw  them  gathered  together  at  some 

chstatiee  oft.      Marksmen  were  then  Ordered  to  the 

liont,  and  knelt  down  and  fired,  and  several  Fenians 


liG 


FENIAir   HEEOES  AND  MAIiTYES. 


were  woimded.  li  is  not  a  fact  that  the  rebel  called 
totonel  Bourle  surrendered.  He  was  on  a  horse 
trying  to  rally  his  men  when  a  sergeant  took  aim  and 
hred  at  him,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  wounded  the 
horse  trom  which  Bourke  fell.  Bourke  was  afterwards 
tound  on  a  truss  of  straw,  and  was  arrested." 

The  evidence  of  the  informers,  Godfrey  Massey, 
and  John  Joseph  Corydon,  on  the  trial  of  General 
J^ourke,  referring  to  many  other  Fenian  heroes  and 
martyrs,  18  given  substantially  in  full  from  the  report^ 
leaving  out  the  questions  which  elicited  the  narratives' 
The  same  evidence  in  its  main  features  was  given  Ly 
them  on  the  trials  of  the  others  identilied  and  convict- 
ed  by  them. 

Patrick  Condon,  alias  Godfrey  Massey,  was  called 
On  the  witness  ascending  the  table,  the  prisoner.  General  Bourke. 
changed  h.s  position  in  the  dock,  and  looked  Massey  straight  in  the 
ace,  but  the  latter  turned  his  eye  aside.     The  witness  stated  that 
he  was  a  colonel  in  the  2d  Texas  regiment,  Contederate  service,  after- 
wards  a  canvasser  for  a  commercial  house  in  New  Orleans ;  that  ho 
became  comiected  with  the  Fenian  Brotherhood  about  Au-u.t  1 805      * 
and  went  to  New  York  in  October,  186G.     He  first  saw  Bourke' 
whom  he  now  identified,  in  the  Central  Fenian  Office,  19  Chalhanl 
street,  New  York.     He  met  Stephens  there  also.     He  continued- 
I  was  at  a  Fenian  meeting  in  Philadelphia.     Steps  were  there 
taken  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  war  materials  and  mon(>y     An 
ofHcer  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  materials.     The  wir 
materials  were  to  be  sent  to  New  York,  for  shipment  to  Ireland 
Stephens  and  I  left  Philadelphia  and  went  to  Washino-ton      We 
there  met  some  men  belonging  to  the  organization,  and  consi.,,ed 
them.     I  know  that  James  Stephens  was  connected  with  the  Fenian 
Brotherhood.     That  portion  of  it  which  began  with  John  O'.M'.ljo. 
ny,  was  under  his  direction.  -  /I  have  known  the  prisoner,  Bom-ke,  us 


COLONEL  THOMAS  FEANCI8  BOUKKE.  147 

Colonel  Thomas  Bourke,  or  Colonel  Thomas  F.  Bourke,  in  Amerir-a. 
1  knevv  vciy  well  a  pc3rson  named  Colonel  Kelley.  I  gave  money  to 
Co  onel  Tliomas  F.  Bourke.  I  gave  him  about  £10  in  J.ondon.  I 
«  ated  to  hnn  when  I  gave  him  the  money  the  purpose,  which  was 
that  he  should  come  with  me  to  Ireland  to  join  the  rising ;  that  was 
some  weeks  previous  to  the  11th  Febi-uaty  last.  He  sai^  that  he 
had  to  leave  London  for  Ireland  on  the  evening  of  the  day  in  which 

nI-w' Y  ;  k"T  *^"r^-     ^"^^  '  ^^^*  Washin^^on 'l  went  to 
New  Yo  k.     I  amved  there  before  Stephens  by  a  few  days.     On 
Stephens  return,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Fenians  held  at  New 
1  ork.     About  the  middle  of  December,  1866,  there  was  a  Fenian 
meetmg  held.     Some  of  the  Irish  Centres  were  present.     General 
Halpm  was  present.     I  cannot  think  of  the  names  of  all,  but  about 
«mty  were  present.     I  am  not  sure  whether  the  prisoner,  Colonel 
Bourke,  was  there.     Stephens  presided  at  the  meeting.     Stephens 
made  a  stat(;ment  showing  the  amount  of  war  material  held  by  the 
Brothcn-hood  at  New  York.     He  said  that  the  amount  was  not  one- 
seventh  ot  the  minimum  fixed  by  himself.     He  said  that  the  mini- 
mum was  thirty  thousand  rifles.     He  objected  to  open  the  fi<dit,  as 
he  had  pronused,  but  to  prove  his  fidelity  to  Ireland,  he  ofiered  to 
come  over  and  put  himself  in  the  hands  of  the  police  authorities, 
and  to  be  hanged.    That  proposition  was  scouted  by  every  one,  and 
It  was  delernmu-d  that  thefight  should  beopened.    I  knew  aperson 
nanied  Captam  M'Cafierty.     He  was  at  that  meeting.    Some  eyen- 
n^^s  alter  that,  Stephens  convened  another  meetmg.     About  twenty 
offloials  were  present  at  that  meeting.    It  was  purely  a  mihtary  one. 

d  d  not' n  T         '"  '"°^  ''"  ^''"  °'  ''''  ^^"^l^^^Sn.     Stephens 
did  not  hke  to  mention  it.     I  said  that  M'Cafferty  was  ri.^ht   and 
sn,)poried  his  motion  to  divulge  the  plan  of  the  campaign  t^  hia 
officers     That  was  what  turned  out  afterwards  to  be  tL  campaio^ 
for  Ire  and.    At  that  meeting  several  of  the  officers  said  that  th:y 
would  leave  on  the  next  day,  Saturday,  for  Ireland,  and  they  did 
There  was  a  ist  of  names  of  officers  who  >vere  to  go  to  Ireland  mad; 
out.     I  got  that  hst  ol  names  from  Colonel  Kelley.     He  then  held 
he  position  of  CO.  I.  R.    He  was  the  deputy  of  Stephens.    CO 
I.  H.  signified  -Chief  Organizer  of  the  Irish  Republic."    After  the 
time  of  the  first  meeting,  some  of  the  officers  left  for  Ireland.    I  do 


148 


PENIAJtT  nKEOES  AND  MAIiTYKg. 


not  r(!mcmbor  the  names  of  those  wlio  h-ft  for.  Ireland.     After  that 
niee'ing  I  attended  a  nieetmg  at  Stejihens'  lod-ings,  West  Eleventh 
ftreet.    Junios  Stephens  was  present,  so  wen;  Colons']  Kelly   Cnp- 
tmn  O'Shea,  and  others.     I  know  the  district  ot  Manhattan.  '  At  a 
subscHiuent  meeting,  Stephens  was  deposed  and  repftdiated,  and  Col- 
one  Kelly  was  put  in  his  stead.    I  left  Ni^w  York  ou  11th  Januaiy 
ot  the  present  year.    I  took  shipping  for  England,  from  Portland,  la 
the  Satoot  Maine.     Before  leaving  New  York,  I  reeeived  from  Col. 
onel  Kelly  £550  in  gold,  (British  money,)  to  be  distribute.!  among 
the  oiheers  m  Ireland.     The  Ijst  I  referred  to  a  few  nunutes  ago,  ! 
destroyed.      When  I  aixived  here  I  met  the  offleers  whose  nanies 
Colonel  Kelly  diselosed  to  me,  and  in  aeeordanee  with  instruetions 
I  gave  them  the  moneys.    I  a-rived  in  Liverpool  on  the  2()th  Janu- 
ary  ui  the  present  year.     I  remained  there  for  a  day,  and  then  i)ro- 
ceeded  to  London,  where  I  stopped  at  private  lodgings  until  the  llth 
lebi-uary.     Amongst  the  oiHcers  whose  names  Colonel  KeMv  dis 
closed  to  me,  and  whom  I  met  in  London,  was  the  prisoner,  Th'omas 
J3ourke,  who  was  appointed  to   the  Tipperaiy  district.      Captain 
O  Bnen  and  Dominiek  O'iAIahony  were  oflicers  for  Cork.     Ca  .tn-n 
Beasy  was  for  the  Mill-street  district.    A  man  named  Joyee  wa.  olli- 
cer  for  Fermoy.    General  Ilalpin  was  for  the  Dublin  district    '  I  do 
not  know  that  there  was  any  one  mentioned  for  Louth  or  Drogheda. 
Colonel  Kc.lv  lodged  in  5  Upper  Creswell  street,  London.      I  saw 
there  Gc.u-ral  Fariola,  a  Franco-Italian,  and  a  person  nmned  Cluseret 
I  knew  General  Halpin  well.     I  saw  there  Beu-ne  or  O'Beiru,.  from 
Bubhn,   Mahony,   from  Cork,   and   Harbison,  from   Bc-Uast    who 
saul  they  were  delegates  or  representatives  of  the  Fenian  Brother- 
hood  m  Ireland.    I  gave  them  money ;  £30  would  cover  what  each 
got.    I  statec   to  them  that  the  money  was  given  for  the  support  of 
the  orgamzatzon.     At  that  meeting  an  adch-ess  was  drawn  up  con- 
jonu  y  by  three.   It  was  discussed  as  they  went  along-that  is  para- 
graph  by  paragraph.     It  spoke  aboutthe  wrongs  of  Ireland,  and 
^■^^'  -  ;'!>;>»  >H'  people  to  take  np  arms,  and  invoking  the  sym  .athy 
and  a,d  oi  the  working  men  of  England.     I  came  to  Dublin  on   ,1 
1th  lu^rmuy.     There  was  a  meeting  of  Centres  held  the  n.^xt 

tZn^^?    T"  rf  '"'"''•      ^^'  ^'''''''  ''^'''^   tl^^   ""'»^''i^-l 
Btiength,  material  of  war,  and  the  number  of  arms  held  by  each     I 


COLONEL   THOMAS  FRANCIS  BOtTRKE.  140 

ir.'^nblc.r'"""  '"^'^^^'^^"^^  ^-1-^^ive  Centres  thon  and  there 

icTZnl!:"'  ''"'"  '"'  '""""'^'  ^^""^'^^  ^^^^*    ^^-*  f"- 

of  anns-to  consist  of  rilles,  gnns  and  pikes.    TJie  next  day  I  went 
mo  the  count.  Mayo,  first  to  Castlebar,  then  to  CS^lr 
I  stopped  one  night.     I  then  retnmed  to  Dublin   tlience  to  Cork 
Where  a  P™  meeting  was  held  on  the  oulski-ts^      ^tol^^^^^^^ 
vcmed  by  O'Mahony,  the  same  I  gave  the  money  to  m  Lo  u  on 
The  numerical  strength  given  me  m  Cork,  was  Lnty  tho    aTi 
J^   an    about  one  thousand  five  hundred  weapons,  the  t  m' 
louty  of  them  pikes.    I  left  Cork  the  next  day  for  the  town  of  Tip- 
peraiy,  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  comitiy  for 
mihtaiy  purposes.    I  next  returned  to  Dublin,  and  then  left  for  Lon- 
don.    I  went  to  Colonel  Kelly's  lodgings.     Kelly  gave  me  some 

tr.TTM'°  ":"  '"'"'"'"'    ^'  ''''' '"«  *^«  ^-^-^g  was  fixed  for 
the  5th  o   March,  that  being  the  anniversary  of  the  day  on  which 

some  of  the  persons  taken  in  Canada  were  sentenced  to  be  executed. 
Told  me  hat  the  railroad  centres  were  to  be  destroyed,  if  they  could 
not  be  held  by  the  insurgents.    A  guemlla  war  was  to  be  maintain- 
ed,  and  the  railways  destroyed  by  the  msurgents.    I  left  London  on   ' 
he  morning  after  my  an-ival,  and  returned  to  Dublin,  for  a  day  or 
two.     I  then  went  to  Mullingar,  for  militaiy  purposes.     On  my  re- 
turn  to  Dublin  a  meetmg  of  Fenian  Centres  was  held,  at  somcf  dis- 
tance from  Porto  Eello  Barracks.     O'Beh-ne  was  there.     Told  him 
the  night  of  the  5th  March  was  fixed  for  the  rising.     On  the  iiext 
day  went  to  Cork,  where  I  saw  O'Mahony,  to  whom  I  said  that 
the  5th  of  March  had  been  fixed  upon  for  the  rising.     Soon  after  I 
left  Cork,  and  went  to  the  Limerick  Junction,  where  I  was  aixested, 
on  the  railway  platfonn,  on  the  night  of  the  4th  Mai-ch. 


On  tlie  cross-examination,  Connsellor  Entt  forced 
Massey  to  acknowlcdoje  the  disgrace  both  of  his  moth- 
er  and  wife.    He  proved  he  was  the  illegitimate  sou 


150 


FENIAN  mrnOTZa   and  WAUTYKg. 


of  t,],o  fpiorby  onel\raesoy,undlluxttlie..tter  pressed 
iiii'i  to  become  an  iiil'or.ner.  pessea 

Tlie  Btate.n.nt  of  tl.e  otl.er  wrote],,  Corydon   mIiosg 
cIc'oTudjition  was  as  follows :  vviia  ms 

I  wag  a  lieutonant  in  the  I'-cloral  nrmv  T  i,., 
tho  P,.„ia„  Br„,h,.r„„od  in  ,h      Ir/cVig,..  ",'T  "  '"™,"'"  "' 

year.,  ta  tl,o  FcM  Zv     I^  r'^'-''  '  "''""'""•^  "'^'•'y  f™^ 
Gln»..n,  C„l.,;„.|  ri ,  l„  """,'"  ""  ^'^'''■'■•■''  "™y  i  I  met  Condon, 

Vork  about  a  month  a    1  M  ""'      """'"""'  '"  ^cw 

i.™.ten«.yja.o:s,ep,,™ro.r:v:^^^^^^^^ 

know  wlierc  to  fi  „1  L  ?       ^^  ^""'''''  """'  "'"'  '"«  ™'M 

low  »  ntrt  to  find  us ;  I  romamod  in  Dublin  I  III  Novoniber  !««/■,. 

w..e  l„re  I  ,„,„,,  of  JauK.  St.pbon',   a™, ;  I  I     '"o  ,  I 

lietnldme  tl.at  tlie  purport  of  tlie  dispatches  was  thai  Slenl,„„I 
would  bo  out  Of  jail  in  m,,,  „,.,i,  days;  I  utcanout  o  Rlcl  Z 
I  went  to  New  York  by  the  Scotia  on  the  lOth  ^0^0,^^'^!^^ 


11^ 


COLONEL   THOMAS   FRANCIS   BOURKE.  151 

O'Mahony  ftnd  many  other  Fenian  offlcers;    we  hrid  a  meeting 
wlKMi  I  arrived,  and  we  gave  the  tidluss  of  the  expected  escai.e  of 
hlephcns;  the  prisoner  Bourke  was  there;  I  had  been  imroduced 
toliinimUnion-sciuare;  I  came  back  to  Ireland;  th,  announce- 
montof  Stephen's  escape  was  made  while  I  was  there;  Bourke 
was  an  organizer  for  Munhatian,  and  ho  urged  the  men  to  unity, 
and  said  when  Stephens  could  get  out  of  an  EngHsh  jail  what 
could  not  people  outside  do  in  accomplishing  the  objects  for  which 
tl...y  were  band,.d  ;   I  came  toQue(>nslown  on  the  22n<l  D.-cenibcr  j 
I  went  to  Cork,  and  from  I  hence  to  Dublin;  I  remained  in  Ireland 
one  mghl  ;  I  delivered  my  dispatches  to  Colonel  Kelly  in  IIeytes> 
bury  street;  I  got  dispatches  from  Kelly  to  O'Mahony,  and  went 
to  New  lork  again,  where  I  saw  Bonrk..;  in  January,   1866    I 
came  to  Liverpool,  and  thence  to  Dublin;  I  remained" here  until 
Aprd;  IlaiowM'Caffeity;  li«  was  introduced  to  me  as  a  Fenian  • 
I  last  saw  M'Catferty  in  the  prisoner's  van  ;  he  was  described  to  me 
as  an  officer  of  the  organization,  and  one  of  the  guerrillas  of  the 
feoulh(,rn  States  ;  I  met  several  other  prominent  Fenians,  including 
Kelly,   Col.  Bourke,  John  Flood,   Capt.  Doherty,  Major  QuinnT 
&c.  ;   I  saw  M'CafTerty  in  Dublin,  ir,  the  latter  end  of  Januarr  or 
February;  I  met  also  Edward  Dutly;    in  Aprd,  1866,  I  went  to 
Liverpool  and  remained  thereuntil  February  last;  I  received  pay 
fi-om   tl.e  lunds  of  the  Fenian  bn,therhood;  the   paymaster  wa^ 
Ca])t.  O  Korke,  who  went  by  the  name  of  Beecher ;  we  received 
orders  to  be  prepared  to  move  on  to  Chester;  our  orders  were  at 
first  to  remain  quiet  until  we  would  be  told  to  move ;  I  next  saw 
the  prisoner  in  the  early  part   of  Januaiy,  1867,    in  Birchfleld 
street  in  Liverpool ;  it  was  then  stated  that  he  came  from  Amer- 
ica;  I  met  persons  who  had  come  from  America  with  him  •  they 
were  Captain  or  Colonel  Dunne,  Joh«  Joseph   Rogers,  ILuTy 
Mdedy,  who  went  by  the  name  of  Shaw,  and  some  others  •  I  met 
those  people  at  a  meeting  in  Birchfleld  street;  the  prisoner  Bourke 
was  at  that  meeting;    he  stat.d  that  they  came  over  for  the 
purpose  ot  fighting,  and  it  was  useless'  to  think  any  lon.nT  that 
St(.phens  would  fight,  for  he  would  not;  I  met  JohnVM'Caierty  in 
Liverpool,  in  February,  1867;  I  met  hini  on  more  occasions  than 
one;  I  remember  a  mcetin-  hdn^i  licld  in  Liyerpool  in  the  latter 


152 


PEN! AN   HEROES   AND   MAUTYRS. 


Ir' 


om  of  Jan,m,T,  m7,  or  beginning  of  F..„ai,u-y,  for  tl.o  n„n.o«e 
of  forming  a  directory;  ti.at  was  af.or  JJ..urkc,.  h  ui  left;  u  o  h  r 
man,.an.odJ3<un1<..  waHtlu..ancla  n.an  nanu-d  Nolan  C 
Olt...  ,.  on,.  B..,..her,  was  tl.ero,  and  presided;  hi  Ja  he 
came  iron.  London  ,o  Liverpool,  to  know  if  the  An.  -iem  ■<  ' 
were  In  favor  of  fonning  a  directozy ;  he  said  they  werti. 
a  directory  and  M'Callerty  and  he  were  in  it,  and  he  wan  '      C 

am         1  r    ;      T:"^  '''''''"•^>' ""  '"^^^  '''^y^  »^^"--"  t^-  Chester 
aia,r,    Ilood   and   all   the  Anu-riean  ofHcers   in  Liverpool  were 

.ore;    the  n.eeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  a  n.an  nan  ed    vlh 

nEd,ar  street;  M'Carteity  and  Flood  said  , hey  were  sen   t 

tluy  s.1.1    hat  the  American  ofticers  in  Liverpool  w(.uld   go  to 

a ti^'lei!  ?  '"^T""  """  ""  ^"  '^  '^^^"•'^'■^»'  "-  -•"-  «^-^l. 
a  t  un    eized,  and  the  anns  put  into  it  of  course;  the  rails  wer^ 

rnf        r,T  'f  "^'  ™'  ^^^^'   "'"^  »^^-^  were  to  proce..d  by 
ram  o  Holyhead,  where  they  would  seize  the  nuvil  boit  and  land 
m  Ireland;  that  plan  was  agreed  to  at  the  meeting;  no  arrange 
ments  lor  canying  it  out  were  made;  after  the  n.eeting  sepa  S 
ajKl  on  the  Sunday  bef<.re  the  Monday,  I  gave  intbrnt.tir;:  tilt 
a  thontiesm  Liverpool,  I  made  arrangements  to  go  to  Chester- 
all  the  Ameru-an  ofllc-ers,  about  twenty,  went  to  Chester;    I  saw 
«em  at  Bu-kenhead ;     I  went  there   with  them;    I  me    Au 'il 
Gibbons  one  of  the  American  officers  at  Birkenhead;  a  ccm     i^ 
mane  of  the  order  to  march  on  Chester  was  given  by  Gib  o Is- 
h   to  d  me  that  the  thing  was  *'  sold ;"  that  some  one  iLl  intb  ml 
ed ;  he  sau  that  M'Catlerty  sent  to  him  to  tell  them  all  in  Live, ^ 
hat  he  tlung  was  -  sold,"  and  they  were  to  go  back ;  nfter  t  m 
ate  m  Febioiary,  I  got  orders  to  come  to  Dublin;  'l  ,.    ait^l 
tec  unti  the  mtended  rising;  I  came  to  Dublin  ;  I  knew  a    ^^ 
Godfrey  Massey ;  I  saw  him  after  I  came  to  L-ela,Kl ;  I  was  order- 
.dto  go  to  Millstreet,  (Cork);  I  was  so  ordered  by  Massey  and 
Dully  ;  I  was  told  to  go  to  Millstreet  and  see  the  "  Centre"  there 
a  man  named  Kearney;  that  he  would  give  me  instructions  hov^ 
to  act,  and  through  him  to  find  my  way  to  Colonel  O'Connor  in 
Kerry;  I  was  desired  to  teU  O'Connor  about  the  rising  to  take 


COtONEL  TiroMAS   FKANCI9   BOtlRKE.  ;i53 

K™r„,.y  w„M,,  get  mo  l„„,„l,„.,.,l  ,„  „,„    ..(,.,„,,.  -,  "„";"' 

koalo  1,„  ;  .ou,      '     r  ;■'  T  """  '"  «"  ■"  •'"'■  "»  «""- 

411.  ..f  Marc, ;  I  ,aw  K        ,  v      ,!•  ,' ,  '"  *'"''"''"'  ""  '"» 

tola  mo  he  was  in  Cuvh  ..f  ii.  .  .•  ,    "^  "J^-^oiic,  JVI  Malion 

eon„„„„<,  a.  Cori.;  „„„,„;„     ^'^' J'^^Z::^  \"  '"".'"'^ 
n  Cork  till  Monday,  .„o  4tl,  of  M^o ,,"  T  '     ,1,/™''''''' '' 

Castle  Yanl,  a„„  ,avo  inr„,.,,,„,i,.n  ";'';,,'„  .J",,^'^^  I^"™ 
Masscy  next  a  prisoner;  I  (|r,t  1„.„.„,  ,„  ■  ,  """""=^  I  «'W 
a..t,.„,,tiesin  Uverpool'in  Se;L,:£:;  ^^f-""™-"-  to  the 


On  the  Istof  May,  the  Chief  Justice  chai-^ed  th« 
ury,  wlttclt  after  l,avi„.  beet  ottt  fretn  i,„lf-pl:     ,,"  ,' 

sho  tid  not  be  pronottneed,  the  jn-isoner,  says  the  i-e 


154 


FEmAN  HEK0E8  AND  MAETyES. 


|i''' 


Mr  LoBDs,  il  is  not  my  mlention  to  occupy  much  of  your  time 
m  answcrmg  the  question  why  the  sentence  of  the  court  shonW  not 
now  e  passed  on  me.  But  I  may,  with  your  permissil  ■  tiew 
a  h  tie  of  the  cvuleuce  that  has  been  brought  against  me.  The  lirst 
cvulcnee  that  I  would  speak  of,  is  that  of  Sub-L,spector  Kelly,  who 
bad  the  convemtiou  with  me  in  Clonn.el,  in  Tipperar,.    He  tltes 

.end  Stephens,-  and  that  I  m,«Ie  answer  and  said  he  was  the  mos^ 
d„b>ced  man  that  ever  had  been,  or  ever  would  be,  in  America 

ilmth  ri  f  r  '";■  '**  "'  "^  «'-^™'  "  *"  >'--»  o  "^ 
P  ,nv  ,^  r  '"'""-^"""'^  «<"'•  I  "'■"""  ttat  as  being  the  foulest 
pe.ju,>  that  ever  man  gave  utterance  to.  No  such  conversation 
ever  oeeutTed.  The  name  of  Stephens  was  not  mentioned  I  s  aS 
tC  T  "  ■  'T'. "'  '"""  '°™"  °"  '"^  "™'--  "f^"^'-  He  states 
that  I  stood  with  hnn  in  the  wagon  or  eart.  That  is  also  false  T 
™  uot  1„  the  fort  at  the  time  at  all ;  I  wa3  not  tbo^^h  n  th  bj 
tilZ?"'*"'";"-    I---»ft™ds.    Both  of  these  l:' 

mvinsteT  "',"""  "'"""'''•"'  '°  ""=  ™™  -  v.bose  hands 
my  l.fe  tested,  as  evidence,  made  on  oath,  by  these  men-made 

™  'tc:^' '"'  "r  ""'■"""  °'«'™=  -■'■'-*■ '°  -■">«-* 

g  ave  (The  prisoner  here,  evidently  to  refresh  bis  memory,  looked 
a  a  lutle  bit  of  paper  in  his  hand,  on  which  he  had  taken  a  LuZ 
o  the  evidence  duriiig  the  trial.)    There  are  many  points,  mj  Icrf 

aets.  It  has  been  alleged  I  took  part  in.     I,  is  dot  my  desire  now 
my  ords,  togiventteranee  to  one  word  against  the  vcrdetwhrh 
has  been  pronounced  upon  me.    But  fully  conscious  of  n^y  w 

can  go  ntotv  "T  '""  '"""S-O-f'ly  o"-ci.i  thaU 

can  go  into  my  grave  with  a  name  and  character  unsullied-I  can 
only  say  this :  that  these  parties,  actuated  by  a  de.^irc  eith  ■  ,b,  tl* 
own  aggraudizement,  or  to  save  their  paltry,  miserable  1  v  tave 
pandered  to  the  appetite,  if  I  may  so  speak,  :,f  Justice  and  mvl^e 
Shall  ,,e  the  forfeit.  Fully  convinced  and  silisf^ed  f  t'l.c  !l  to 
me,  t     7  77 r '"  "°""""™  """  '^«  ""-=  -volutiona,;  move. 

Tall   tlr     T: """""^ '" ™^'-»«"»g".at I wouldl  t 
do  agam-nothmg  that  would  bring  up  the  blush  of  shame  to  man- 


,«4 


COLONEL  THOMAS  FRANCIS  BorRKE»  155 

ff2 m'"'' '  ""^  ,T^"'*  '"^^  ''''''''  ^°"^  ^''^  ^^'^  i«  America- 
of  frial  i irr  ^"'^^"!-^^'^  ^^^--^  y«"'  -°d  even  in  this  my  hour 
I  w  r  iio  ,";  '"l^^f  ""^"^««  °f  l^^ving  lived  an  honest  man ;  and 

I  wiU  die  proucUy,  believing  that  if  I  have  given  my  life  to  rfve 

S  of  hb  2^^^^^^^^^  '^^""^  "^^  ^'^^"^^  -^^1  t^^-b«  -th  a  feel, 
mg  o  hbcaty  should  do.    I,  my  lords,  shall  scarcoly-I  feel  I  should 

ZZ^:!:T''''''Tr'''-'''''-  ^^--^I'^ouidnot^on ' 

my  hps  wuh  the  name  of  that  traitor,  whose  illegitimacy  has  been 
proved  here;  a  man  whose  name  even  is  not  known  and  who  I 
d^pcnnt-blank  ever  wore  the  star  of  a  colonel  i;r^::^e' 

::tr:Ls  onhttrt^"-^^*- '  -'-'  ^-^  ^-^  -^^^  ^^ 

"  May  the  grass  wither  from  ins  feet  •  ■     - 

May  the  wood«  deny  him  shelter-earth,  a  homes 
Iheaslieaagrave;  thesuuhisiiglit;  '      ■      ■ 

And  Heaven  its  God."  ' 

Let  Massey  remember  from  this  day  forth,  he  carzies  with  him  as 
my  learned  and  eloquent  counsel  (Mr.  Dowse)  has  stated,  a  s^'en 
that  wil    gnaw  his  conscience-will  cax-ry  about  with  1  im  n  his 
breast  a  hvmg  hell,  from  which  he  can  never  be  separated      I  my 
lords,  have  n.  desire  for  the  nameof  a  mart.x    I  sc'knot  the  ie"h 
of  a  martyr;  but  if  it  is  the  will  of  the  Almighty  andOmnin^  nt 
God  that  my  devotion  to  the  land  of  my  bhth  slLd  be  t2d  "n  ' 
he  scaffold,  I  am  wilhng  there  to  die  in  defence  of  the  right  o  men 
ofreegovernment-therightof  an  oppressed  people  to  thr-owff 
he  yoke  01  tlu-aldom.     I  am  an  Irishman  by  bhth,  an  Ame  Lau 
by  adoption,  by  nature  a  lover  of  troedom,  and  an  enenty  to  tba 
power  that  holds  my  native  land  in  the  bonds  of  tyranny.     It  In  so 
often.been  admitted  that  the  oppressed  have  a  right  to  throw  off  the 
yoke  of  oppression,  even  by  English  statesmen,  that  I  deem  it  unne- 
cossary  to  advert  to  that  fact  in  a  British  court  of  justice.     Irehmdl 
clnldren  are  not-never  were-and  never  will  be-willing  or  sub- 
nu..ive  slaves,  and  so  long  as  England's  flag  covers  on^  inch  of 
Irish  soil,  just  so  long  will  they  believe  it  to  be  a  Divine  rl-lit  -to 
conspire,  imagine  and  devise  »  means  to  hmi  it  from  power  and 
erect  m  its  stead  the  Godlike  structure  of  self-government.    Before 


158 


il 


FENIAN  lIEEOirS  AND  MARl'Yug. 


•■  I  go  any  further,  I  Lave  one  Important  duty  that  I  wish  to  dispose 
of.  To  my  learned,  talented  and  eloquent  counsel,  I  offer  that  jioor 
gift— the  thanks^the  sincere  and  grateful  thanks  of  an  honest 
man ;  I  offer  him,  too,  in  the  name  of  America,  the  thanks  of  tho 
Irish  people.     I  know  that  I  am  here  without  a  relative— without  a 
friend,  in  fact—three  thousand  miles  away  from  my  family.    But  I 
know  that  I  am  not  forgotten  there.     The  gi-eat  and  generous  Irish 
heart  of  America  to-day  feels  for-to-day  sympathizes  with,  and  does 
•liot  forget  the  man  who  is  willing  to  tread  the  scaffold— aye,  defl- 
antly^proudly  conscious  of  no  wrong— in  defence  of  American 
principles-^In  defence  of  liberty.    I  now,  to  Mr.  Butt,  Mr.  Dowse, 
Mr.  O'Loghlen— all  my  counsel,  one  of  whom  was,  I  believe,  Mr. 
.  CuiTan-~aud  my  able  solicitor,    Mr.  Lawless— I  return  to  them, 
individually  and  collectively,  my  sincere  and  heartfelt  thanks.    J 
shall  now,  my  lords,  as  no  doubt  you  will  suggest  the  propriety  of, 
turn  my  attention  to  the  worid  beyond  the  grave.    I  shall  now  look 
on  to  that  home  where  soitows  are  at  an  end— where  joy  is  eteraal. 
I  shall  hope  and  pi-ay  that  freedom  may  yet  dawn  on  this  poor 
down-trodden  country.    That  is  my  hope  and  my  prayer;  and  tho 
last  words  I  shall  utter  will  be  a  prayer  to  God  f.)r  forgiveness,  and 
a  prayer  for  poor  old  Ireland.     N(nv,  my  lords,  in  relation  to  tho 
.•  .  other  man,  Coiydon,  I  will  make  a  few  remarks.     Periiaps  before 
.  .1  go  to  Corydon,  I  should  say,  much  has  been  spoken  on  that  tablo 
Of  Colonel  Kelly,  and  of  the  mec-ting  held  at  his  quarters  or  lodgings 
in  London,     I  deshe  to  state,  I  never  knew  where  Colonel  Kdly°3 
lodgmgs  were,  and  I  never  knew  where  he  lived  in  London,  until  I 
heard  the  informer,  Massey,  announce  it  on  the  table.     I  never  at- 
tended a  meeting  at  Colonel  Kellys,  and  the  hundred  other  state- 
.  ments  about  him,  that  has  been  made  to  your  lordships,  and  to  you 
gentlemen  of  the  jmy,  I  now  solemnly  declare,  on  my  honor  as  a 
man— aye,  as  a  dying  nian— these  statements  to  have  been  totally 
unloimded  and  false  from  beginning  to  end.     In  relation  to  the 
small  paper  that  was  introduced  here  and  brou-ht  against  me  as 
evidence,  as  having  been  foimd  on  my  person,  in  connection  with 
that  oath,  I  desu-e  to  say,  tliTJt  paper  was  not  found  on  my  person 
and  I  knew  no  person  whose  name  was  on  that  paper.     O'liyrne' 
Of  Dublin,  or  those  other  persons  you  have  heard  of,  I  never  savv 


I 


I 


COLONEL  THOMAS   3?EAKCIS  BOURKE.  J 57 

not  met.  That  paper  has  been  put  in  there  for  some  purpose.  I 
can  swear  positively  it  was  not  in  my  Hand  writing;  I  can  also 
ewcar  I  never  saw  it,  yet  it  is  used  as  e^ .  lence  against  me.  Is  this 
Justice f  Isthisriglit?  Is  this  manly?  I  am  willing,  if  I  have 
transgressed  the  laws,  to  suffer  the  punishment ;  but  I  objeet  to  this 

be  r'  T  TJ  ."''  '  '"'''  '^  *'^^  "^^^^  "^«  ^^'  °f  a  l^"»«an 
«r;n*.ct^T'     '  "^  "''''^-     ^^^  P^''^^^^^*  om,.cMoa  foi-m- 

niy  constitution  somewhat  sbattered-it  is  better  that  my  life  should 
^e_  brought  to  an  end,  tban  to  drag  out  a  miserable  existence  in     e 
.  pnson  pens  of  Poitland.    Thus  it  is,  my  lords,  I  accept  the  ve  d 
0     ourse  my  acceptance  of  it  is  unnecessary ;  but  I  am  satisfied 
V.  if  h  It     And  now  I  shall  close.     True  it  is  there  are  many  fecliu.s 
that  actuate  me  at  this  moment.     I„  fact,  these  few  disconnected 
rcmai-ks  can  give  no  idea  of  what  I  desire  to  state  to  the  com-t.     I 
have  ties  to  bind  me  to  life  and  society,  as  strong  as  any  man  in 
this  court.     I  have  a  family  I  love  as  much  as  any  man  in  th^ 
court  do  s  ms.     But  I  can  remember  the  blessing  received  from  an 
aged  mother  s  lips,  as  I  left  her  the  l^.t  time.     She  spoke  as  the 
Spartan  mother  did-'^Go,  my  boy.      Return  dther  with  you 
Shield  or  upon  ,t."    This  reconciles  me.    This  gives  me  heart      I 
Bubmit  to  my  doom,  and  I  hope  that  God  will  forgive  me  my  past 
«ms.     I  hope,  too,  ,hat  inasmuch  as  He  has  foi-  seven  hiuuh-« 
years,  preserved  Ireland,  notwithstanding  all  the  tyranny  to  which 
She  has  been  subjected,  as  a  separate  and  distinct  nationality   He 
^Mll  also  i-etricve  her  fallen  foitunes-to  rise  in  her  beauty  and  her 
mujesty,  the  sister  of  Columbia,  the  peer  of  any  nation  in  the  world. 

The  prisoner  liere  ceased,  and  stepped  back  from  the 
front  ot  the  dock,  just  as  cal.nlj  as  he  had  advanced 
to  It,  bnt  with  perhaps  a  slinjht  additional  histre  in  his 
eye,  and  a  heio-]itened  cok.r.  Throi.o.bout  he  never 
hesitated  for  a  word,  but  s]x»ke  slowly,  distinctly  and 
delibei-atel  V,  to  the  end.  He  was  listened  to  thiiuo-h- 
out  with  breathless  anxiety.  A  mnrniur  of  applanse 
and  delight  witli  liis  eloquent  and  touching  address 


*  ~^'^"1!BaBl!BT2  V 


158,. 


FENIAH  HEB0E9  A»D  MAETVES. 


.   arose  am,d  the  audience,  as  lie  stepped  tacT.  tut  it 
was  of  eourse,  instantly  suppressed  hy  the  offlciu 
The  sentence  of  the  law  for  high  l/eason  was      ea 

■raZri  wir  rr  "^  "^"»"<^'''  '^^^  -^ 

quartered,  on  Wednesday,  the  29th  May 
_   In  appearance,  Thomas  Francis  Bouie  was  strit. 
■  Ten  S      "°',  "'f''''^  "^  *^'^^-^-    About  L&e 
BD       nf     'i         ""''  '"•■'™'^'  save  his  actions   a 

occuld   isV    ,•  ""'   P^"'"-'*)-   when    anything 
oceuued  to  stir  his  natural  genius.    He  was  dcei.lv 

action.  ^0  1  the  night  before  his  trial  he  wrote  dm 
following  strong,  touching,  and  beautiful  letter : 


%^'H-^     ~■^"^^,V4tJ 


\^ 


and  what  that  sei,l«„ce  m.„  h„  T  1^       !  '      ^"""'^  "y  '"■>'' 

a,u.  prepared  to  me  ."I,  i^'rlrj^  '"""'"  '""'^'"^^ 

Who  was  o.,y  happy  i„  ,.„„  ,,p,,  ^,„ --•  ;:^'^  ,  ;,   • 

iTv  M° r'""?^""""  *-"''=''""'  ""^P'^akable  allliotion?  ,r" 

"X£^n^  ^?  ""  '■"  »''-»  S""  'o  c™cm.i„n    ; 
III,  r.demption  of  man's  hnmortal  soul;  and  *p  wi,„  ,-. 


COLONEL   THOMAS   FRANCIS   BOURKE. 


159 

last  Easto  Siiiulay  I  paiinok  nf  H„l„  r.  •  '''' 

I  countal  the  dl(ror™rnr  ,        ,  C"'""'""""!  at  a  late  Mass. 

SaeramontaretlXfoal':"  "''™  ''-'  P««W"g  of  tl,; 

u.ato..sotuswet^tair:i:':':;™r"  ""-^  -"'^•>' 

As  anything  relating  to  tlie  young  liero  is  enter 

natu  c  tlio  fol  owing  .■etniniseeneos  of  onewl.o  obt-.in 
cd  adnttssion  into  Ins  cell  in  Kiltnainl.am  jlV  wi    '" 
under  sentence  of  death,  wiU  be  particularly  a^I 
pnate  and  interesting :  ^  "tppio- 

"A  warder  paced  without  in  the  passage.    I  went 
over  and  looked  within    on,l  i,  •  , 

with  ».  1,'tn .  \  , ,  °',  ''  '•>'"«  »"  "  hammock, 
with  a  little  table  beside  him,  tipon  which  stood  a 
c n.cifix,  a  vase  of  holy  water  and  some  boo  s  Is 
the  nearest^  of  the  '  Irish  felons'  to  death.  '     '' 

in  his  13     tT',"-!,'"'  T  '"'  '""^-     '^'  '--3  "  book 
a  eoid  attached  to   the  lower  end  of  his  couch     I 
wald^  ""  ""*""""  '"  ^"'-'  -'i  I  "-Wd  the 
"The  door  was  unbarred,  and  I  walked  forward 


!     "i 


I", 


ICO 


FEN1A2T  HER0E8  AJSD  MARTY118. 


Tlie  book  wliicli  lie  lia,d  been  reading  on  my  entrniico 
lay  open  npon  the  coucli.  I  looked  at  its  hetuliiig, 
and  it  was  the  '  Preparation  for  Deatli,'  by  St.  Alphun- 
sns  Lio;ouri. 

"  I  saw  no  change  in  Thomas  Bourke  the  condemned 
and   Thomas   Bourke   on   trial.      Self-possessed   and 
calm   as  ever,  he  spoke  quietly,  firmly  and  gently. 
His   observations   were   given   almost   invariably    in 
reply.     In  the  life  of  the  informers  he  could  see  noth- 
ing worth  living  for,  when  they  had  outlived  their 
honor  and  foreswore  their  oaths ;  so  he  gave  his  dictum, 
and  I  believed  him.     I  spoke  of  his  worn  and  enfeebled 
state  of  health,  for  I  had  special  reasons  for  so  doing. 
He  told  mo  it  was  his  souvenir  of  a  miUant  fio-ht ;  two 
bullet  wounds  had  passed  through  his  leg  near  tliQ 
upper  tliew  of  the  thigh.     The  hospitals  were  crowd- 
ed with  wounded,  and  although  he  got  as  much  'card' 
as  possible,'  still  he  w^as  not  so  well  cared  as,  '  under 
other  circumstances  he  would  be  ;'  and  the  muscles  of 
his  leg  slouglied  away,  until,  he  said,  when  the  wound 
healed,  "  the  skin  alone  covered  the  bone."     And  so, 
truly,  it  was;    from   his  thigh  to   about  ten   inches 
aliove  the  knee  there  was  only  the  bone  covered  with 
thin  and  seamed  skin.     There  was  one  topic  more 
tipon  which  I  started,  and  that  was  the  most  import- 
ant topic — death  was  near  him.     I  shall  not  tell  how 
I  neared  that  great  subject,  but  well  I  remember  his 
reply.     'There  is  a  little  book,' he  said,  Svhich  has 
taught  me   much,  and   one   thing  it  has  taught  me 
beyond  all ;  the  longest  life  is  not  the  best  life.     You 
read,'  he  said,  *the  Imitation  of  Christ,'     An  hour 


<  *1 


COLONEL  THOMAS  FEAHCI8   EODEKE.  JQl 

goes  by  vory  fast  in  tl.e  cell  of  a  man  whose  hours  are 
m,,, horcd  l,y  the  law,  and  my  hour  with  Thomas 
1  ..urko  fleotd  faster  than  I  dreamed.  Much  he  spoke, 
d  u,„ch  i  learned  from  others  of  him,  but  all  he 
""'  ":''{  ^,'""^  "'«  Pi«t'>>'e  I  drew  of  him  deeper  in 
my  m;"d,  that  a  better  and  nobler  soul  never  existed 
upon  tJie  earth. 

"They  have  spread   reports   of   In's  bcarin-   an,l 
WtTle'r  "^  ""'"•'—''  ->->'  are  neitr,. 
that  he  has  left  a  wife  and  family  in  New  York  ■  that 
he  has  1, eon  allowed  every  delicacy  which  he  re,;,ir   , 
a  u     otl„n.  has  been  refused  to  him  ;  that  the  Sister 
ot  Chanty  were  m  constant  attendance  ujion  him-  . 
and  to  al    those  as.eHh,.s  I yi„  a  flat  contradiction. 
J    o mas  Bonrke  never  was  married,  he  has  no  wife,  no 
dn hlren.     I  e  leaves  behind  him  in  America  a  dear 
and  venerable  n>other,  and  as  dear  siste,-s,  and  of  aU 
of  whom  he  was  the  prop  and  stay.     When  he  was 

wd'elT  h    t      ";f """'  'f  ""^  P'^"*^^  "P-  «-  diet 
.U  ,e    the  law  allows,  and  no  more,  and  that  diet  is 

hut  Ireud  and  water:     Afterwards,  he  received   tho 

d  e   of    he  ordinary  prisoners,  and  no  other  delicacy. 

The  Sisters  of  Ciiarity  never  were  in  attendance  upon 

him;  but  the  Sisters  of  Mercy,  from  Goldenbi"; 

VI.  ted  him  upon  one  of  the  last  days  of  his  stav  -,t 

Kilnnunham  and  I  believe  did  so  at  L  r^^L^JZ 

Very  I  ev.  Mr.  Kennedy,  the  chaplain  of  the  fa 

Now,  ,,tt,e  as  all  those  items  in  the  strange  eveiUf  i 

Imtory  of  G^ieral  Thomas  Bourke  may  se^m,  the  e 

a  necessity  that  there  should  be   no  mistake  aboj 


^i        :* 


il 


162 


FENIAN    HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


them ;  and  when  I  add  that  his  manner,  his  kindliness, 
his  gentleness,  and  his  unobtrusive  courage  impressed 
all  around  him  with  a  high  idea  of  his  character,  I 
have  given  to  public  record  much,  though  not  all,  of 
what  I  learned  in  an  hour  in  the  jail  and  cell  of  Thomas 
Bourke  when  he  lay  there  condemned  to  die."  Subse- 
quently the  sentence  of  death  was  commuted  to 
perpetual  imprisonment. 


i| 


I  f 


1 


I 


•v  i..... 


'.  t 


'    ■   ••••  ••.  •!-■.•  .   .    •  ./ 

f.^.....   ...     ....    ....  .    ;    •  •'  ;••  •  ./■•■'; 

•    •      •••..•     .■     ■      ...        ;   .  ••  .-     '.'••■■ 

.....     s    ■■    .        •  '  ■''''•  '    ■:.•  .- 

•■'■/••  ■■'■  ','■•.:><■    :^  ..,  ,„   >,. 

..•I,       ^    .    ..  '  ' '••  •■'»  .i.V;:ii.  J— 7 


I  .1   . 


.''''■■'■{'.:'   >}..\t-m  U\:i*;\  V  k,v.'-  -ifi;; 


t  •  J 


■'    •       ••  .••:,■> 


-     I  •.•;•■:•.., 


• 


"•  vv- >-...  ^ 


COLONEL   THOMAS  J.    KELLY, 


1G3 


COLONEL  THOMAS  J.  KELLY. 

Woanded-Promotod-8l,.„ar  otZTlf        ,'^'"  ^'""^  "^  Cincinnati- 

Tour  of  rnBpection-8uporvI«rst.nwl^  i  ^'^  ^'^"^"^  ^°  Ireland-On 
Difloronco  w  th  Htophe  s-Rohl^r^  f.  r,f''''P'~^"'^°''«  ''^  America- 
Aima  Of  the  .'  Lvill  QovZn,i""  ''''"'  ^"  ^-'-'^-^«"-  ou  the 

Colonel  Thomas  James  Kellt,  whose  name  is  so 
frequently  alluded  to  in  the  evidence  of  Mas^y  and 
who  became  Chief  0.gani.er  after  the  retiJi^  "f 
Stephens  ;s  a  man  of  u.arked  ability,  various  resources 
and  unt,„ng  energjs  a  clear  thinker,  and  a  sa^ac  ol 

ad^'ita'essin  '"  '''^°  '''"''''''  '    ^'''^  -'"*" 

i.as  baffled  «.°wat:hftrs:  irt  2^::^':^ 

even  when  his  residence  was  betrayed  to  the  Go™  L^ 
ment,  he  managed  by  that  restless  foresight  wllh 
amounts  to  intuition,  to  cl.ange  his  whereaboutr  and 
to  evade  up  to  the  present  the  attentions  of  the  poCe 
The  dangers  through  which  he  passed  in  America  aJ 

.ated  tl  e  self-rehance  which  has  been  of  such  use  to 
Inm  m  the  service  of  Ireland.  A  follower  of  the  art 
preservative  of  all  arts,  the  knowledge  gained  a.  a 


164 


FENIAN   HEK0E8   AJSTD  MAETYE8. 


r.  I' 


printer  and  journalist  has  stood  him  in  good  need  on 
the  emergencies  into  which  his  patriotic  duties  led 
him. 

Thomas  J.  Kelly  was  born  in  Mount  Bellew,  county 
Galway,  in  1833.     His  fatlier  belonged  to  the  farm- 
ing class  and  brought  up  his  son  for  the  Church.     On 
this  account  he  received  a  better  education  than  is 
generally  the  lot  of  young  men  in  similar  circum- 
Btances.      'Not   having   a    vocation   for    the    clerical 
profession,  his  father  wisely  bound  him  to  the  printing 
business  in  Loughrea.     Finding  the  prospects  before 
him  too  circumscribed  for  his  aspiring  mind,  young 
Kelly  started  for  America,  and  arrived  in  New  York 
when  but  eighteen  years  of  age.     Like  most  young  ' 
men  on  their  first   arrival  here,  he  had  to  encounter 
those  buffetings  which  almost  invariably  fall  to  the 
lot  of  the  inexperienced  in  a  new  country ;  but  with 
his  usual  persevering  industry,  he  overcame  them,  and 
got  good  employment  at  his  profession  as  printer.     He. 
soon  rose  in  the  estimation  of  his  employers  and  in 
the   good  opinion   of  his   brother   craftsmen,  among 
whom  he  was  quickly  distinguished  for  his  integrity 
and  ability.     He  was  a  prominent  and  active  member 
of  the  Printer's  Union,  and  members  of  the  craft  now 
refer  to  him  as  another  evidence  of  the  ability  which 
distinguish  Printers  when  they  enter  public  life.     The 
eminence  to  which  the  followers  of  Guttenberg  and 
•  Faust,  of  Etienne,  and  Caxton,  have  arisen,  is  a  favor- 
ite and  prolific  theme  v.dth  the  crafts-brethren.     This  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  or  checked,  when  we  consider 
the  philosophers,  poets  and  historians,  on  the  muster- 


\ 


■^i  i 


IIIIIM..HUMi 


COLONEL  THOMAS  J.  KELLY.  165 

roll     the  Franklins,  Berangers,  Micl>elets,  and  in  our 

t  e  haton  01  France,  distinguished  Inmseif  by  drivin.. 
the  Enghsh  and  Eussiam  fro,„  Holland  and  J2l      ^ 
Anstnans  on  the  plains  of  Italy.     Truly  C"     o 
pnnters  be  proud  of  the  men  who'havo  done  hlr  to 
the  profession,  and  it  was  extremely  pleasin^^n    h^ 
conneofon  to  hear  so.ne  of  the  eraft';e£o  |2  a 
one   who   illustrated   the  fcrce   „f    character    itdv 
resources  sagacity  and  honesty,  which  are  cla  media 
chai-acteristic  of  it.  best  representatives 
On  his  an-ival  in  New  York.  voun<r  Kp11„  i,     • 

Gi™^  id  "  ^'  ™"'»g«^  oftered  by  the  National 

Guaid,  and  companies  of  Jtizoa  soldiery.      He  of 
course  joined  a  military  organisation,  an'd   m  time 

^  bife  :r:rtT^  -"  '-^^ 

The  monZT!?  '"  '°°'''''  """1  "'"'■''l  ''"ale. 

bis  h^d  Ws  fir  r^^  •■  °"r  ^"*'"''"  sets  a  weapon  into 

fie  learns  the  use  of  it,  the  more  intense  is  his  desire 

feel ::  irbr'  ^"''''''■.  ^""^  '-^ «'-  -':: 

leelmg,  and  became  an  active  member  of  the  Irish 
Society  which  had  produced  the  Fenian  Brotherhood!- 
tl  at  known  by  the  significant  title  of  "ThTEmni^ 
Monument  Association."  i-mmefc  .^ 

m''v'u'  "*  "'"  '■<^«<""'"<"'<'ation  of  some  friends 
Ml.    Iielly  went  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  vvheie  t 
soon  >^tei-wards  started  the  xXa^hville  Demo'JliiZiZ 


f  J 


r 


166 


FENIAN    HEEOES   AND   MAETYES. 


al)ly  supported  the  Presidential  claims  of  that  nohle 
patriot,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  during  the  exciting  polit- 
ical campaign  of  1860. 

Mr.  Kelly  contiimed  to  be  a  warm  and  fearless 
supporter  of  the  Union  cause,  and  when  the  rebellion 
broke  out  he  was  oblis2;ed  to  leave.  These  were  the 
terrible  days  when  terrorism  ruled  in  Tennessee,  and 
when  the  Legislature  in  secret  session,  and  without 
waiting  for  the  people  to  vote  on  the  question  of  seces- 
sion, placed  the  power  of  the  State  at  the  disposal  of 
the  "  Southern  Confederacy."  By  the  machinery  of 
mobs  and  vigilance  committees  dextrously  worked, 
night  and  day,  thousands  of  Union  men  were  forced 
to  tly  from  the  State.  "  We  have  seen  scores  of  the 
best  men  of  Tennessee,"  said  a  competent  authority, 
writing  at  the  time,  "within  the  last  few  days,  and 
they  all  bear  witness  that  in  their  belief,  the  reign  of 
ter^'or  now  raging  and  maddening  in  that  State,  has 
had  no  parallel  in  modern  history.  There  is  less  of 
personal  freedom,  there  is  more  of  atrocious  and  horri- 
ble tyranny  in  Tennessee  at  this  time,  than  woidd  be 
found  under  the  worst  and  most  wretched  government 
of  Asia,  or  the  savage  islands  of  the  sea."  At  thisj 
time,  Kelly  was  the  la^t  man  to  fly  the  starry  flag  in 
Nashville,  over  his  printing  oflice,  and  he  had  to  fly 
so  precipitately  that  he  was  unable  to  save  liis  proper- 
ty, and  therefore  was  again  thrown  on  the  world  with 
nothino;  but  his  own  strono:  will  and  industrious 
perseverance  to  rely  upon.  But  he  was  not  disheart- 
ened, lie  saw  that  a  great  war  was  in  its  inception, 
and  that  patriotism  should  meet  its  just  reward.    Hia 


ff-: 


J 


»•     I 


OOIOSEL   THOMAS   J.    KELLT. 


IfiT 


■> 

Ilia 


military  spirit  added  to  the  feelings  engendered  by  his 
teatmeut  as  a  Union  man.  The  deelaration  of 
Colonel  Coreomn  in  New  York,  tendering  the  69th 
Eegnnent  for  the  defence  of  the  Union,  and  ealling  for 
recnuts,  reached  him,  and  he  started  with  the  irtien- 
tion  0    gomg  to  New  Yoii   and  joining  it.    When 

■ioined   .         ^     '  '™  ^"*  '•'^Siment,  and  immediately 
joned  Its  ranks  as  a  private,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
the  three  months'  seryice,  he  re-enlisted  for  the  war 
_    lie  had  seen  some  active  sei-vice  in  Western  Virginia 
in  his  first  campaign,  and  was  severely  wounded  in 

ty  piomoted  to  a  Second  Lieutenancy  tor  gallant  and 
mentonons  conduct,  but  his  wound  rendered  him  unfit 
for  servzce  for  Pome  time.  When  able  to  return  to  his 
ttgiment  he  was  selected  for  duty  as  Signal  Officer  on 
General  Thomas'  staff,  with  rank  of  Captain,  a  distinc- 
tion which  speaks  for  itself,  especially  when  conferred 
by  so  able  ana  discerning  a  commander 

The  signal  service  was  one  of  great  importance  and 
imminent  danger.  From  the  n<,h,r»  nf  if  "™'"'' .™" 
Hi-tlo   „.,ir  •»  ■^'^■"  ™e  nature  ot  Its  proceedings 

little  pubbcity  was  given  to  them.     Taet,   sagacity 

were  tr™'' •' v'  "'"'  P"''^^'''^"!  «"der  all  obstacles 
were  the  requisites  to  make  or  distinguish  an  officer  in 

mnieroTb  °'^*'""   ""  ^'°"^^  "«--'  -=-- 

oUted  po  ition  on  a  mountain  or  hill,  to  telegraph 

heir  signals  or  respond  to  otliera.    These  po^tils 

were  frequently  exposed  to  rebel  raids,  and  the  offlZ 

were  otteu  oveipowered  or  killed.      , 


n 


168 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND   MAETYE8. 


I! 


Captain  Kelly  discharged  the  duties  of  his  jiosition 
to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  General  Thomas,  -who 
covi23limented  him  for  his  ability  and  zeal.  In  camp 
he  was  a  great  Livorite  with  his  brother  officers,  on 
account  of  his  ap-eeable  manner,  in  their  social  hours, 
and  his  daring  disposition  in  timi^s  of  danger,  made 
him  relied  on  by  the  men.  His  /egiment  was  fiucally 
mustered  out  of  the  service,  having  served  its  time 
honorably. 

Almost  broken  down  by  hardships  and  exposure, 
Captain  Kelly  was  unfit  for  active  duty,  and  he  retired  . 
with  his  regiment  to  recuperate. 

About  this  time  when  he  had  helped  to  save  the 
Kepublic  of  Ins  adoi)tion,  circumstances  led  him  to 
place  his  experience  in  the  cause  which  designed  to 
make  a  republic  in  his  native  land.  By  so  doing  he 
doubtless  interfered  materially  with  his  future  pros- 
pects, as  he  was  oftercd  promotion  in  the  American 
service,  and  declined  it  to  further  the  cause  of  Irish 
liberty.  Being  present  at  the  Chicago  Fair,  to  raise 
funds  in  aid  of  the  Irish  movement,  he  received  much 
information  concerning  the  progress  of  republican 
ideas  in  Ireland,  and  the  desire  of  the  Fenian  Broth- 
erhood there  to  take  the  field.  He  was  so  much 
impressed  witli  what  he  heard,  and  believing  he  would 
be  of  positive  benefit  from  the  training  he  had  under- 
gone, he  made  up  his  mind  to  join  the  struggling  band, 
came  to  New  York,  and  placed  himself  and  his  expe- 
rience at  the  disposal  of  tiie  Brotherhood. 

The  result  was,  Captain  Kelly  was  dispatched  to 
Ireland  as  an  envoy,  the  first  who  was  sent  in  a  inili- 


i 


I 


.-d^  \ 


■\vlio 


MNIAK   HEEOES  AND  MAETTE8.  (M 

tZ  77''^'-     ^.'"=™'^i'«d  to  Mr.  Stephens,  the  inter- 
^:  w  J,.d   a  special  in.iuenee  on  the  future  of  both 

KeOv  h'l '■  r ,  ""'"'^'"•'i'^'y    ^'^•"^k    tvith    each    other". 
c.n  I-t     '        '"  "'""'"'S'  ^^^""^^   conspirator,  with 
capacity  to  sivay  men's  minds,  in  Stepliens ;  Stopliens 
^tnowle  gedthe  bh,nt,  honest  and  cUle^oS,  in, 
i«il.y.     Beconung  convinced  of  the  power  and  influ 
ence  of  James  Stephens,  and  finding^nm  mastefof 

0   o~,-Kol,y    became  his    devoted   acCen 
ilc  was  a    once  sot  to  woric,  and  depnted  to  malje 

re"  'XT  "'  'T-^''"''  °'  *'""^^  -  I-'-^'l,  atd 
,.„  ...  ^.'^  ,.  biaiea  tliat  lie  was  amazed  at  the 
noU,  ;"r  "'  f"  ^f°«'-'->din  Ireland, and  co,  d 
not  h  we  believed  it,  only  he  had  convinced  Limself  by 
actual  observation.  ■' 

In  all  his  transactions  Kelly  exhibited  such  a  clear- 
ness of  perception,  and  vigor  of  thought,  8,:ch  inte.-  ,ty 
of  purpose  and  energy,  that  Stephens  quickly  r^co  ^ 
n..ed  him  as  an  invaluable  agent  in  clryin.  o„  his 
o.^an..ation  scheme.  He  was  emplovec  iirvario 
ohces,  sometimes  in  visiting  circles  iifdifferent  sec  ^ 
of  the  country,  at  other  times  in  assisting  Stephens  in 
the  executive  management  of  affairs  at  iLne 

-Unring  these  trying  and  dangerous  missions  the  cool- 
ncss  and  courage  of  thp  si.mol  „«,• 
Lro„..Lt  ;„f„     1         "?,"«"'"■'  oftcer,  were  constantly 
111  ought  into  play,  and  he  labored  with  a  secrecv  and 
caution  that  baffled  the  most  vigilant  deteZs!' 
Uu  the  an-ost  of  James  Stephens,  Capt.  Kelly  had 

me:";,:;'S*  T'  "--■"«  abUlty!    He  h'ad   ' 
meet  xk.  difterent  centres  who   were  impatient  to 


iii;ir-f 


/ 


mSsassmmam 


Jl 


11:^ 


170 


COLONEL   THOMAS   J.    KELLY. 


commence  operations  on  the  occasion,,  and  to  calm  or 
make  controlable  the  excitement  that  existed.  Tlie 
promises  of  support  from  America  were  so  flatterin<^ 
that  he  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  give  his  consent  to 
a  rising  then,  Stephens,  too,  was  opposed  to  an  out- 
^break  under  tlio  circumstances. 

Captain  Kelly  supervised,  if  he  did  not  originate 
the  plans  for  Stephens'  escape,  whicli  were  so  success- 
ful. The  arrangements  were  admirably  prepared, 
and  Kelly,  with  a  few  friends,  received  the  liberated 
prisoner  outside  of  the  jail  walls,  and  conducted  him  to 
a  place  of  safety,  and  baffled  all  search  for  him. 

Most  of  the  leaders  were  now  in  prison  or  sentenced 
to  penal  servitude.  Kelly's  activity  bordered  on  the 
marvelous,  lie  had  to  meet  the  different  centres  from 
the  country  to  make  their  reports  for  it  would  create 
suspicion  if  too  many  were  seen  to  visit  the  retreat  of 
the  Chief. 

Of  course,  the  particulars  of  the  transactions  of  this 
period,  or  of  Captain  Kelly's  important  services 
cannot  now  be  published.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  he 
did  good  work  which  fully  met  the  approval  of  the 
leading  minds  of  the  Brotherhood.  When  it  became 
necessary  for  Stephens  to  visit  this  country  to  try  and 
heal  dissensions  and  unite  all  lovers  of  Ireland,  all  the 
preliminary  arrangements  were  made  by  Captain 
Kelly.  How  he  effected  his  object  is  fully  stated  in 
the  following  interesting  letters : 

,     Paris,  March  21,  ime. 
Mt  Deah  —   ,  When  I  parted  from  you  on  Tuesday  night,  you 
Lad  nt  mucb  idea  of  the  heavy  task  befcfre  mc.     Yet  now  that  all 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MAHTYE8. 


lie 


«.KI,  s„i.o  „f  „„  tl^viZ™ 'of  Br,  "  """'■'  ""'"  "■"'  ■""'"' 
on  an  o„„u,oea,  soUnZLl  v  ™  'L'Tl'lr  '""  '"'  ""'""^ 
«n  English  port.  ™  '^"  ^'""yi  »"<1  saiM  for. , 

Scolland,  *pt  aU  niSt  ta  c  I  ^°  f  """"•'y '"•■'oM  a  port  ta 
n-t  <lay  from  t/.erofo  Lonto  "rf'-  T  '"  ""^  ■"'""">"■ 
:"''";'%Sintaobeanof.,fo  XfP  ■\^»'>».  ™'l  (in  ...o 
in  a  liotolacross  tlic  street  from  Z-     ,'  "™P'"e  ""  n%l" 

Hotel),  Bta«ea  ly  the  mot^rt!^    ?""r  ^'"»™  ('"  '"oPai:™ 
D„vor.  '  '™°S  ""^  f™  tte  Victoria  Station  for 

Wo  sot  on  board  tUo  Frenoh  m„ii  .. 
o'clock  on  Sunday,  and  f^^^  frct^^™  .'f'=  ■"»-'  *™ 
"atcty.    Wasn't  n,y  „i„d  happy  ZZllZ^'fj''  """"=<■  '" 
saw  tl,o  eiucf  Oisanizer  of  tie  Wsb   T)     T,^      ™'"'  '""'  """^ 

-..  at  tbc  b,in.uy.ad,  ^^^^^i^T:::  ^:::;2 
co.:::rr  "tfor^;  jon^r  ™  °°*'^  -^  -  ^-^ 

affair  w,^  companuivcly  ca,v     T  '™'y  "'o^nicnt,  that  the 

tonches  the  Irish  soil,  i^.  "v  u'show","' n  •"""  """  ^'"''''  S<ei4ens 
treatment  of  Irish  patriot  b„,  ,  I,  ,°  f ',"*  """  "'™  ""'tarons 
"I'-uly  kindled  all 'r,t''f  "'/"I  '°  '"«  "»"onal  flam„  . 

-  ".cy  propose  to  do.  Jritot iT  r;:;^i°'  ?r''"'^' "  -•'" 

to  commit  snch  devilish  barl,nr;«„.  .^  ""  *''™  ""=  "'tonpts 
taMi-o,  that  he  has  notSepm- '  olT-.f  ''J"^'"'"  ™^  6""'^ 
fioldiere  to  butcher  women  1      e.  ,  ^-    ^"'  '""'  "'*>'  Ins 

(as  he  threatened  to  cWamlh,""  '""  S'^y-l'^i^l  old  meu 
»>o„,h-,et  him  da  e  c  Iry':^.'!™;;"*;  T"""  ''™"  '"°  »""»»' 
.1.0  women  Of  Ireland,  amlhc'e  wH  M     ""*,"  ""™"""'  '°™'* 
"lone  in  Ireland,  bnt  in  tlie  ,  eato  ■         r>  '"'*  "  ■^""''■lion,  no,    . 
.  bo  pa..lieled  to  history.     tIT  ,1"'"  ^'"""  -"■»-.  -  -ill  not'        ' 
•nak.!  ns  light  before  wo  were  rea^".  "^i     '  T  '"""  """"«'  '» 

«";i  lost.    Just  wait  and  so  u,e  2c't ,  fib  '''■'"',''  ""'P""'"  ""'1 

enect  of  the  arr.v.al  of  Mr.  Stephens 


/ 


.i:4  i 


172 


COLONEL  THOMAS  J.   KELLY. 


I 

■ 


^ 


In  America,  and  you  will  see  I  speak  correctly.  All  is  well  for 
Ireland  yet.  Next  Christ  mas  I  have  confidonce  I  will  dine  with 
you  as  a  free  and  independent  citizen  ot  the  Irish  Republic.  Kind 
remembrance.     Yours,  etc. 

TuoMAS  J.  Kellx. 


Dear  Mks. 


Paris,  !March  21. 
I  have  been  remiss  in  not  writing-  to  you 


before  this.  Mr.  Stephens  and  myself  ari'ivi'd  here  on  Sunday 
last.  We  were  enabled  to  make  our  tri]i  with  great  ease.  Just 
think  how  horribly  stupid  the  enemy's  agents  are,  when  we  were 
enabled  to  travel  in  the  open  day  through  Scotland  and  England— 
to  embark  at  eleven  in  the  day  from  the  harbor  of  Dover. 

After  all  the  ship-searching,  we  started  from  the  qunys  in  the 
city  of  Dublin.  Mr,  Stephens  left  his  lodgings  on  an  open  car, 
and,  on  my  honor,  undisguised.  We  had  no  easy  time  in  the 
Channel,  as  we  were  kept  there  three  days  owing  to  adverse  winds. 
We  were  driven  to  Carrickfergus  Bay  by  stress  of  weather,  and  it 
was  amusing  to  think  how  much  the  Mayor  of  Belfast  would  give 
to  know  what  a  distinguished  guest  he  had.  However,  as  the 
wind  changed  after  behig  anchored  all  night,  we  did  not  make  a 
call  or  leave  our  cai'ds.  Yom-s,  Very  Sincerely, 

Tuos.  J.  Kelly, 

Arrived  in  America,  Colonel  Kelly  was  tjie  riglit 
liaiid  man  of  liis  cliosen  cliief.  On  tlie  transfer  of  the 
management  of  Fenian  afiairs,  Kelly,  by  circular  of 
tlie  IStli  June,  ISGg,  took  charge  of  the  Central  Office. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  the  most  intense  anxiety 
permeated  the  Feniaa  body.  Arrests  continued  to  be 
made  in  Ireland,  ii\e  hopea  of  an  outbreak  were  rife. 
Its  necessity  was  argued  by  the  great  majority, 
especially  of  the  military  men.  Among  them  Colonel 
Kelly  was  prominent,  and  when  Stephens  did  not 


l^MAK  BEE0E3  AND  KAEms.  173 

dee-nod  offici,.,,  irLele  Ij^^l^.  '"'^  "'  ^''-"  "^'S 

>nent  of  the  aff  1  '  .  ,f  "'"^  ""=  '"»'"'^°™  »  Btatc^ 
account  of  Jame's  Stephet'  "'S?'^"''""'  g'""S  an 
.  P--d  when  action  I';":  '"I,!'  ^''«  '^"«-l 
same  time  that  the  wort  wT  '  P'«'^S'"g  »»  the 
and  that  the  prospect,  „ffl,    P™g>-es8mg  favorably, 

The  detailsVri  ,t?":r  ""■7''°'"'^"'^' 
not  made  p„Wic,  but'the  stat"  !? tf  t"'°,f '^'^ '""'' 
received,  were  employed    n   cZ  '"  """"y^ 

work  of  Ireland's  redemnt  on  71^  ""'  "'^  S'-<'^» 
cient  men  were  reldv  T  h  '  '  "'  '™"  ''"'^  ''^■ 
a-igned,  gave  he^f  and  p  "rl '^'"  ""  ""* 
present.     Members  of  the    T  -M  *^  ™*'™'"='^ 

present  who  stated  H,nf /i  '    organization   were 

willing  and  ^Jl  ed      •  try?'"  f  '^"^  -™ 
and  hereafter,  they  wo  I,    !,  '"'■"»'"'  *'''*' "ow 

words  of  this  leTder  '£r  aatT'^^r''^^ 
come  what  may  were  dnt!  •'  ,  '''"y  *"  ho™c,  ' 
J>omes  and  nai^;  X;  t  rZ'  '°  ««''Vf»  «-> 
for  the  manhood  of  I,e  .nd  Iv  '''"  """"""  '''''^ 
the  enn-grant  shin  .  t^,  !f  .!•  r  ^'''''P'''''  graves  o. 
their  liv^s  were  Ln  ;  V  '  ^"'^'''  "'°"- '»™°«  ™d 
in  driving  th    E  g,  .tC  f  '""?'  I''"'  ^"""-'"'J 

tl.e   attempt    would   be    n  "  ^''''"'"^ '  =""'"'»' 

Nothing,  tL,  sai,  'eol't'loribar:!.  ''^  ^^^     ' 
condition  of  Ireland   on.i  ^i  ^^  ^'^^  present 

ai-e  the  uJoVelZ    t7  T  •^'^"'™'-d,  and  so 
iieJand,  to  put  an  end  to  it.    The 


/ 


^^i'Sottcn  or  hn',     ^^'^  ^^"se  of  hohL  ''^^ 

tioii  of  thn     ^      """^  '^  t^e  disaDoni-nf  '''®^®  not 

-  Jork  and  vidnitv"  to  tl,        '"  ""^'  '""00.^  of  W„ 
^as  hold  on  1„    ,   '       ""-  number  ,.e  a       ,       ■"''"' 

e™"  to  main"!?'"""  ''""■"  '"»-*..•*", ''"'  ■"*  k""™.      • 

01  tile  nsnio- in  t,.„7„    ,      "'^  ^"^oerte,  at'tov  fi. 

ft  ^"  ^1  eland,  on  the  5H.  i\r      ,      *^®  ^'^sulfe 
SiK  :  Permit  m  ^'^'■^^^- 

''--/' err:  crc^--^^^^^^^ 


/ 


"the  frno^f 
'ct  of  severe 
)ast  services 
'^  were  not 

^  of  Kew 
'  hundred, 
^j's  action 

if^e  known. 
Iiac]  ahcady 
'  a  Vote  of 
I  to  sustaia 

s  of  the 

'  'n  the 

it  only 

*  better 
3  result 


entfflc^ 
in  fliQ 
\  tho 
plans, 
>n  Ten- 
ure 
'roach 

ice— ■ 
•age. 


V 


PEiriAN    HEROES   AND   MARTYRS.  j  ^r 

liri-UU    Note  J       •        ?""""  "■""  ""'  P'-"S"""""'  of  John 

you  say  we, u-e  vanquished?     Did  nL  p.      .•         ^'  therefore  do 
tlcfeals  ?    Did  it  nc  t  liW  ,  Chnsiianity  commence  by 

itH  martyrs.     Our"  «^^^^  Wood  of 

-ul  if  fh.i,.  vo^es      tfl^e^^^^^         *?  ^hose  of  the  prin.itive  ages, 

--.or  cHuic^^fr  .srt;^:;  r  ^^-^  ^*^" 

tliat  wliich  I  use  to  von  »t  h  •  ^        '^^  language  thtm 

'"-■"'*>g,  and  is  not  about  to  fl„i»,f     .?  7'"/°"' ,''  °"'^  '=™- 
a  /a/<  accompli;  if  you  douhf  it  ^        Rofonners,  it  is 

.1.0  revolution,  f„„Ls  t„e  Z^Z.,^^'T'  ""^''Z 
or  an  instant  by  .,,0  „„ski„„,  .„„,  o  '  ™„  l^L  ^wZT"""* 
lore  to  give  battio,  it  Ijas  rosun,,,!  fi.  ^  ^^  ' '''"'  "'• 
more  , lie  of  hunger  and  colcHir  n  ;'""'"  "™'''  '"™  "o 
and  the  reform  ofshj  Bri  ^t  T  ''"^"'"'  *"'S  '""""""'; 
.1.0  organization  Lm  bei,,!  Iw;,!":' r™,'  "^  """*"  »' 
conformity  with  tho  orde  ,  of  .,      '      '         "^  '''""S  ''''  <•"•>■  "' 

eoaerous  people  of  F^nee  in  favrrflreat.  7^1:'  '^^ 

.  ■    ■ .    .  Thomas  J.  Ksixy, 


:*  / 1 


.*■■■■..  ■■"  .4 


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ir> 


COLONEL  THOMAS  J.   KELLY. 


Many  details  of  Colonel  Kellj's  devotion  to  tlie 
cause  of  Irisli  Liberty  cannot  be  given,  as  lie  is  fortu- 
nately "  at  large  "  yet,  and  their  relation  might  com- 
promise others  as  well,  whose  services  in  the  future 
will  doubtless  be  needed. 


i 


the 
rtii- 
om- 
ure 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  M.VKTYE3. 


177 


•e 


CAPTAIl^  JOIIISr  M'OAFFERTY. 

Arrc8ted-Tried-Half-Mien  Jury  because  he  is  an  American-Acquitted-En- 
r.  M  V",  «  *"  America-Address  at  the  Great  Jones'  Wood  Meeting 
in  New  york-Goes  back-The  Afl'air  at  Chester-Second  Arrest-In  the 
Dock-Corydon's  Evidence-Found  Guilty-Speech  In  the  Dock-In  his  Cell. 

Scarcely  less  attention  has  been  directed  to  Captain 
M'Caffertj,  than  to  any  of  tlie  Fenian  prisoners.  The 
fact  that  he  is  an  American  by  birth,  and  the  legal 
measures  taken,  in  consequence,  by  his  able  counsel,  to 
eifect  his  liberation,  have  kept  his  case  constantly  before 
the  public,  which  has  lost  nothing  eith'er  by  the  manly 
style  in  which  the  subject  has  conducted  himself. 

The  excitement  immediately  following  the  seizure  of 
the  Irish  People  party,  1865,  and  the  fear  of  American 
aid,  led  the  Government  to  watch  the  steamers.     On 
the  arrival  of  the  City  of  Limerick  at  Qneenstown 
ISth  September,   Captain  John  M'Cafferty,  announ- 
ced as   "late  of  the  Confederate  army,"  was  arrested 
From  his  person  was  taken  a  waist  belt,  with  two  six- 
barrelled  revolvers,  a  rifle,  and  four  works  upon  drill 
One  was   Brigadier   General   Silas  Casey's  Infantry 
Tactics,  three  volumes ;  another.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Phihp  St.  George  Cook's  work   on    military  move- 
ments,  with  illustrations  by  Colonel  George'  Patten 
late  United  States  Army;  the  third,  the  "A  B  C  "' 


w 


[!'■ 


178 


OAPT.\JN  JOHN   M  CAFFEUTY. 


'f 


of  Skirraisliing  and  Movements  for  Infantry,  by  Wm. 
Malton,  late  Second  Eoyal  Middlesex  Rifle's ;  and  the 
fonrth,  a  School  Mannal,  by  Stepbeii  Pinckney,  Colo* 
nel  Ninety-fifth  New  York  National  Guard.'    These 
appearing,  as  the  officials    sagaciously  said,  "  to  con- 
tain every  information  necessary  for  the  management 
of  troops,"  the  authorities  regarded  the  ex-Confederate 
Captain  as  a  very  dangerous  character,  if  not  a  walk- 
ing arsenal.     He  was  remanded,  put  in  prison,  bills 
found  against  himy       1  sent  for  trial  to  the  Special 
Commission,  held  in  1805,  in  Cork,  charged  with  felo- 
neously  compassing  and  intending  to  depose  the  Queen 
from  the  style,  honor  and  royal  name  of  the  Imperial 
Crown  of  the  United  Kingdom ;  also,  with  feloneously 
intending  to  levy  war  against  the  Queen,  and  of  mov- 
ing foreigners  with  force  to  invade  Ireland. 

The  prisoner  pleaded  not  guilty,  and  his  counsel, 
Mr.  Butt,  claimed  that  as  the  prisoner  was  an  alien, 
half  of  the  jury  to  try  him  should  be  aliens  also.  The 
Attorney-General  requiring  to  see  the  foundation  of 
the  claim,  Mr.  Butt  read  a  certificate  from  the  District 
Court  of  Michigan,  United  States,  that  the  prisoner, 
who  had  been  in  the  Confederate  army,  had  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  in  May  last. 
He  also  read  the  following  letter  from  the  United 
States  Consul,  at  Queenstown,  to  the  prisoner,  who 
after  his  arrest,  applied  to  him  for  his  interierence : 

United  States  Consulate,  Queenstown,  i 
October  9,  1865.  } 

J.  M'Cafferty,  Esq.  :  Sir--T  am  in  receipt  of  youi'  communica- 
tion of  7th  instant,  and  in  reply,  I  beg  to  inform  you  that,  upon 


H 


FENIAN  nEROES  AND  MAETYE9. 


179 


examination  of  your  case,  I  find,  first,  that  you  were  bom  in  San- 
dusky, State  of  Ohio;  second,  that  you  ddiberately  entered  the 
rebel  army  duiiug  the  war ;  tliird,  that  you  took  the  amnesty  oath 
in  the  month  of  May  last ;  fomth,  that  you  left  New  York  in  Sep- 

'tember,  to  go  to  Paiis,  to  get  permission  from  Southern  men  to  go 
to  Mexico ;  fifth,  that  you  were  aiTcstecT  at  Queenstown,  with  re- 
volvers and  treasonable  documents,  involving  you  in  a  suspicion  of 
complicity  with  treasonable  movements  in  Ireland.  Now,  whether 
your  statement  is  true  that  you  were  on  your  way  to  Paris  to  con- 
sult with  men  still  disloyal  to  the  United  States ;  or,  whether,  as 

■  suspected,  you  are  an  agent  from  America,  combined  with  the  Fe- 
nian organization  to  raise  a  rebellion  in  I  d,  in  either  case,  you 
have  entirely  forfeited  nil  claims  to  either  sympathy  or  support  from 
the  United  States  Government.  I  retm-n  you  yp.ur  oath  of  allegi- 
ance, and  am  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  G.  EASTMAN. 

Under  these  eircumstancos,  the  Government  could 
not  resist  the  suggestion,  and  the  jury  was  formed  as 
the  prisoner's  counsel  desired.  On  the  16th,  counsel 
having,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Justice,  dibcussed  the 
manner  in  which  overt  acts  alleged  against  the  prisoner 
had  been  sustained,  Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald  said :  "  Hav- 
ing carefully  considered  the  case  last  night,  the  Court 
iiad  come  to  the  conclusion  that  there  was  no  evidence 
to  sustain  an  overt  act  on  the  port  of  the  prisoner, 
after  tender  arrived  in  port.  They  would  direct  the 
jury  to  acquit  him."  The  jury,  in  accordance,  return- 
ed a  verdict  of  acquittal.  This  fact  is  important,  and 
bears  upon  the  case  of  Stephen  J.  Meany,  who  com- 
mitted no  overt  act  after  his  arrival  in  Great  Britain, 
but  was  found  guilty  of  acts  done  in  America.  Captain 
M'Catferty  was  released  on  his  own  recognizances,  and 
was  cheered  by  the  people  on  his  liberation.     Subse- 


1 


■f 


180 


CAWAIN   JOHN   ll'cAFFEKTf. 


m 


iK 


quontlj,  on  his  way  to  Diil)lin,  lie  was  tlio  oLjcct  of 
much  attention  and   sympathy  wliorevcr,   aloiig  tlio 
railway  lino,  the  fact  of  liis  presence  becauio  known. 
Men  and  women  pressed  forward  to  sliake  his  liand,  - 
and  conejratuhate  him  on  liis  release  from  captivity. 

^  On  his  release  from  prison,  Captain  M'Calferty  put 
himself  in  communication  with  the  Fenian  Govern- 
ment in  Ireland,  and  was  despatched  by  it  to  America 
to  explain  the  extent  of  the  niovenieirt  there,  and  the 
reliance  placed  in  the  promise  of  assistance.     At  the 
great  mass  meeting  hold  in  Jones'  Wood,  New  York, 
after  the  suspension  of  the  Ildbeas  Corpus  Act,  in  Feb- 
ruary, at  which  two  hundred  thousand  persons  were 
present.  Captain  M'Calferty  was  introduced  as  "  the 
envoy  of  the  Irish  Republic,  with  important  despatches 
for  the  order  in  this  country."    He  implored  his  hear- 
ers to  stand  by  the  Irish  revolutionary  army,  which  " 
amount  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men.     All 
they  wanted  was  arms  and  munitions  of  war.     lie 
spoke  of  the  discipline  which  existed,  and  in  the  cour,  o 
of  his  remarks  said:  lie  could  not  speak  to  them  as 
eloquently  as  other  <:jentlemcn  present  could.    He  was 
only  a  soldier ;  he  desired  to  light,  not  to  talk.     Ire- 
land was   not   even   his   native   country,  he  was  an 
American  by  birth ;  but  Ireland  was  now  his  adoj^tcd 
country,  and  it  was  her  cause  he  was  now  pleadlu"-. 
He  was  dealing  in  no  extravagances,  he  was  telling 
them  plain  fiicts.     Another  consideration  he  would 
impress  upon  them.     In  carrying  forward  the  strngglo 
which  had  been  inaugurated,  tliey  might  fail  of  tmc- 
cess.     lu  that  case,  it  would  be  worthy  of  every  Insh- 


PEitlAN  1IER0E3  AST)  MAKTYEa.  IgJ 

man  to  have  Bomctl,l„g  to  sl.ow  tl.at  wl.on  tho  Btru- 
tZ  *"'",«,":"•'  "";  ''°  l'"J  patriotic,,!  onou-h  to  aid  tha 
cause  oJu.  „at,vo  l.nd  to  tl,o  extent  of  his  power: 

lone     toT  Tf  *"''""  "'■ ''"  "•*'°"«'"  "'  ^1'=^  «">'='■' 

Mities  of  f  r  '""'^  I^°^^'^"i''«^.  thongh  not  proba- 
b.l  t,03,  of  fa.lure.     No  one  could  look  into  the  future 

issue  of  th  3  contest ;  but  if,  perchance,  they  should 
fo.l,  the  a,ders  of  this  movement  in  A.neri^  wo"ld 
Lave  the  assurance  that  he  would,  like  many'  of  h  s 

'J  V 

At  this  great  meeting,  resolutions  Avere  passed  con- 
dcnnatory  of  Mn  Aclau.,  the  American  AmbassaZ, 
at  Lon  Ion,  and  Mr.  Eastman,  Consul  at  Queenstown 
for  dechuMig  to  interfere  in  the  case  of  Captain  mS 
ler  y,  because  he  had  been  in  tho  Confederate  service 
and  notwithstanding  that  the  said  "  Captain  M'Caffert^ 
has  taken  the  amnesty  oa'h  required  by  the  rresidenf 
who  thereby  cast  into  oblivion  all  former  acts  against 
tne  Government  or  authority  of  tlie  United  States 
and  restored  said  Captain  M'Cafferty  to  the  full  and 
entu-e  rights  of  American  citizenship  " 

Captain  M'Cafiferty  attended  and  addressed  the  mass 
meetmgs  hold  in  Washington,  Philadelphia,  and  oTC 
leadmg  c,t,es.     At  Philadelphia,  he  said  t'here  To  h 

s^r  He-  "''"''  '/;"  "'""  ''""  ^'"-  *»•""  io 

of     tV  „      n    ?'T  "*  ^"''''^  ^"^  "<"  to  ^'^  «'OU"ht 
o£    It  would  take  three  years  to  compel  the  surrender 


182 


CAPTAIN  JOHN   m'cAFFERTY. 


of  Quebec,  and  to  obtain  tho  control  of  tbo  St.  Law- 
rence. He  expected  to  return  to  Ireland.  lie  prom- 
ised to  do  80,  and  ho  would  keep  liis  promise.  Most 
assuredly  ho  did.  As  ho  said,  ho  was  a  soldier,  and 
only  believed  in  iighting ;  consequently  he  wa?  one  of 
those  who  adhered  to  tlic  military  programme,  when 
Stephens  refused  to  fight  in  Ireland,  and  immediately 
started  for  the  theatre  of  operations.  The  Attorney- 
General,  charginof  M'Caiferty  with  being  tho  chief  in- 
strument, if  not  the  originator  of  the  contemplated 
seizure  of  Chester  Castle,  gave  an  outline  of  his  move- 
ments, np  to  the  date  of  his  second  arrerit,  based  on  the 
information  of  Corydon. 

The  attack  was  to  have  been  made  on  Chester  on 
the  11th  of  February;  but  on  Sunday  information  of 
the  design  was  given  by  Corydon  to  the  authorities, 
who  were  enabled,  in  consequence,  to  take  the  neces- 
sary precautions.  « If  that  project,"  said  tlie  Attor- 
ney-General, "  had  been  carried  out,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  exaggerate  tlie  disastrous  consequences  to 
this  country  which  might  have  followed."  M'Catl'erty 
went  to  Chester  some  days  before  the  coiitemphited 
attack,  and  took  apartments  at  the  King's  Head,  in 
the  name  of  Frederick  Johnstone,  and  remained  till 
Monday.  On  Sunday  morning,  the  10th,  he  was  vis- 
ited by  two  men,  and  later  in  the  evening  by  seven 
more,  "who  had  all  the  appearance  of  Yankees." 
The  Government  stated  that  between  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  one  thousand  five  hundred  strangers 
arrived  in  Chester,  by  train,  from  Crewe,  and  other 
places,  but  the  authorities  there  were  not  unprepared. 


St.  Law- 
lo  prom- 
3.  Most 
licr,  aiul 
■19  0110  of 
le,  wlien 
lecliately 
Lttomey- 
cliief  in- 
Mnplatcd 
lis  move- 
id  on  the 

lester  on 
lation  of 
tliorities, 
le  neces- 
le  Attor- 
d  be  im- 
ences  to 
'Catlcrty 
nnplatcd 
Head,  in 
ined  till 
was  vis- 
)y  seven 
ankees." 
;lioTisand 
itrangers 
id  other 
repared. 


FExXIAN   HEROES  AND  MARTTRS.  133 

wZZy  Io7       "  ^'-^W-^^^d-     J^^cforo  leaving, 
mv^aneity  sent  a  messenirer  ono  Anstin  riiM         T 

..m,,„„j  ,1.  .„„„  i' -  ^—  «*"•;«• 

r«i, ., ..,  .riiiH,,,!,,,,,  ,.4  ,„    s.  7,'. ;; 

f].o  AT      -n  anival,  and  a  watch  was  kent  on 

*»7 1««,  id  ™S  J:,  ■;";:  f™  *"•  I"  • 

S!sj;r^,,f  ;2t,r,r  sl^^'^^^^^^^^ 

identified  at  Mountiov  m-ison      ri     1   •  '^  ''  '''"^ 

+1, .  •  -1   .1         """iji>/  piison.     On  bejMo-  sojuvhorl  in 
tho  ja,l,  tI,o,-e  was  found  between  tlie  chT^fZ 

ers,  as  a  token  of  esteem      Tv.f,.  -^    a     7,  "^^^  -^^^th- 
Whon  fl,.  •  -L^etroit,  April,  1866." 

Bo  n.  !         .1'^"'^  ''^"''^'  ^'^  *^^^  ^'-^^^  of  Thomas  F 

-bourke,  on  the  1st  Mav    ^vn^-fv   ,  J-^omas  I^ 

«  J-ai  May,  J\l  Cafferty  was  brought  to 


184 


CAPTAIN   JOHN   M'cAFPERTr, 


tho  bar  for  trinl.     Mr.  I3utt  nppHed  to  tlio  Court  for  a 
postpononient  of  the  trial  to  tho  liist  of  tlio  Commission. 
Tho  appliciitioTi  was  ^n-ounded  on  an  allldavit  ^vhic•h 
was  verified  by  tho  prisoner,  and  wliicli  Bct  forth  that 
ho  was  born  in  tho  8tato  of  Ohio,  in  tl;c  United  States 
of  America,  in  tlio  year  1838;  that  he  was  indicted  at 
the  hist  Special  Commission  for  tho  Connty  of  Cork, 
wlien  he  was  tried  by  a  jury  half  of  whom  were  forcio-n, 
ers,  by  whom  he  was  acquitted ;  and  that  there  were 
certain  official  docnmonts  of  the  Rei)ul)lic  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  which  he  believed  he  would  bo  able 
to  produce,  to  authenticate  his  affidavit,  and  which 
were  material  and  necessary  for  his  defence.     The  At- 
torney-General, for  the  purpose  of  the  trial,  admitted 
the  prisoner  to  be  an  alien ;  when  Mr.  Bntt  withdrew 
liis  motion  for  postponement,  the  object  of  the  applica- 
tion having  been  attained.     Tho  trial  was  proceeded 
with  on  the  following  day.     lie  is  thus  described  in 
conrt :  "  Captain  John  M'Cafl'erty  is  put  forward.     I 
look  down  at  him,  as  he  comes  up  from  where  Thomas 
Bourke  and  Patrick  Doran  passed  in,  with  his  hat  upon 
him,  which  he  now  removes.     lie  sits  down  in  his  ac- 
customed place,  and  the  case  goes  on.    Few  men  have  a 
face  in  which  determination  and  symmetry  are  so  much 
blended,  as  that  of  John  M'Cafi'erty.     It  is  bronzed, 
too,  with  the  light  of  battle-fields,  where  it  gleamed 
amidst  the  lines  of  Morgan's  troops,  as  they  dashed 
along  in  many  a  desperate  charge.     lie  fixes  his  gaze 
always  intently  upon  whoever  speaks.     A  witness,  or 
a  lawyer,  or  a  judge,  or  a  juror,  whenever  he  opens  his 
lips  to  speak,  will  meet  M'Cafferty's  eyes.     Yet  I  see, 


^'**&semmmi 


oiirt  for  a 
niuiBsion, 
v'it  -wliich 
urtli  that 
cd  StutG8 
idictod  at 

of  Cork, 
3  forGij2:Ji- 
lerc  wcro 
e  TJiiitcd 
1  bo  ul)lo 
d  wliich 

The  At- 
admitted 
I'ithdrew 

applica- 
rocoeded 
ribcd  in 
vard.  I 
Thomas 
lat  upon 
n  liis  ac- 
n  liav'e  a 
BO  miicli 
3ronzed, 
gleamed 

duf^licd 
his  gaze 
lies;?,  or 
x^ns  h'lB 
it  I  Bee, 


FENIAN   HEUOES   AND  MARTYRS. 


—  1  fi  r 

T'O  pnncii,al  evi.lonco  is  tlmt  of  P       ,         . 
continuation  of  that  Riven  on  Tin  1  F   '^''"" '  "  '«  » 
follows:  ^  '  ^""'-ke's  trial,  and  is  as 

'tofl.«,  in  D„,„i,„  inJVb  17;  "«;'''»  '»«">  dock;  I  saw 
the  America,,  „f||cc,-,  l|,.,.„  ,■„  ch;,.v'<,  ! ' ,  ,"  ™'  ""™'»™<1  to  all 
""■»  of  all  ,1,0  A,„c.,lca„  o/li,",^'  i^,  ,  ""■'=  "  ™  "'"  lt«a,lquar. 
"■"""«'  ">  n-  a.  Cap,,,;,  jrel^'^^f;"";' f  "-'  time;  b,Z  in- 

attl,a.  .ncc,l„g„,„cl,-,„il""^  '"•■'"  '^'■"""•'■'"'«l;  a"  I  knew 
General  IJ„|„i„,  Colons,  m'  V"'  '"»'"""•.  Caplain  D„„o„y. 
vety  oa„a  at  Pc„ia„  „,,,,Jl  „"'^'„"  Pf  7  ■»""'1  John  Flood 
llie,c;  Iiewaso,gai,izerlbrli;„  J  '  ^  ■"'■'  ^^Jwa'd  Du(r>' 

tain  D„„„c  a.  t,;.s.  .nC^Lt^™';" "' Conna,,,,.. ,.  I-"«Cap- 

«;ero;  I  also  met  n,.„„ls  l!,,;^.  „,   ?'  „  '""''™  ''•''"'°''  0'°""""^ 
•^^'■ived  pay,  „,,„„  t,.,^;       ;■  ™P'°^;"W  Fenian  b„,mc.,s;  Ire- 
0'Ko.ke;  „o  went  by  he"!,,:' ""  ''^  »  ''""*•  *""'  C^P'ato 
Pel.,ua,y,  1S07,  in  LiverpoJcf  t'^   "•  '  •'^"'  "'CaTer^  iu 
p«,  Colonel  Dnnae,  InCh^rs t"     '^'.'™"  ^''"*''.  '•  J-  li  - 
faBi,.ehfleld  snect,  ta  Uve^o  •«:,*'*  ""»•  '  «-' -w  1,„„ 
Fen.an  B,„,„c,.i«.d ;    „„  „'„<,t"^^  T^  "  '>-d<„,a,.,ers  of  ,„e 
Stephens  did  not  mean  ,„fl„|,t     "^ Z  *"',f='^""h.  «aled  ,l,at 
no,,sonse  any  ,„.„er,  since  he  dM  ,,«T       '  ""'  "'"  ""  '>""  "" 

».-«was.ldla.ein.an„ary:r-;„-^.-^^^^^^^^^ 


186 


CAPTAIN   JOHN  JiVaFFEMT^ 


I  1^ 


f 


if 


toHcn ;  nrlthnr  M'CafTorty  nor  V\oa{\  were  present ;  Cnpfuin  O'TlorTva 
Itrcsidcd  at  it ;   tho  meeting  eamo  to  tlie  nnderHtaiidiii^'  tliat,  Bl<'i»l'"ni 
did  not  Intend  to  fljilitatnll;  O'Uorkc;  slated  that  now  tlicy  had, 
tliereloro,  formed  a  directory,  wldeh  wius  to  de|)oso  Slepliens  anj 
const Itulo  themselves  as  tho  autliority  of  tho  Iilsh  Republic;  ho 
further  stated  that  tho  Head  Centre  in  England  TFlood)  had  joined 
this  directory,  as  well  an  Captain  M'Cuderty  and  hiniHclf,  and  want- 
ed also  to  know  it  tho  American  olllcers  then  in  Liveriiool,  would 
sanction  Flood's  name  and  M'CalFerty's  name  as  members  of  Ih9 
dirtictory;  tho  meeting  agreed  to  hr.vo  Flood  and  M'Callerty  on  tha 
directory ;  I  saw  the  prisoner  after  that,  in  Liverpool,  from  tho  1  llh. 
to  tho  lOtU  February ;  there  was  a  meeting  of  Fenians ;  JMV'atlerly 
and  Flood  attended;  they  Bald  they  came  from  London,  represent- 
ing tho  directory ;  that  they  had  brought  about  twenty  ])oun(ls  to 
bo  divided  among  tho  officers  there,  to  pay  their  way  to  Chester;; 
they  stated  that  at  Chester  tho  castlo  was  to  bo  seized,  tlu;  arms 
therein  to  bo  taken  and  put  into  trains,  the  rails  were  t>  be  destroy- 
ed after  tho  trains  had  started,  tho  telegraph  wires  to  be  torn ;  tluty 
were  to  go  to  Holyhead,  seize  mail  steamer,  and  go  thence  to  Ire- 
land ;  the  way  Captain  M'Callerty  statc^d  these  plans  to  tho  meeting,, 
in  company  with  Flood,  was— tho  night  of  tho  following  Jlonday 
was  fixed  upon  to  carry  out  tho  plan,  all  the  American  ollicci-s 
in  Liverpool  were  to  go  to  Chester,  as  well  as  tho  Centres  in  Liver- 
pool ;  a  Centre  is  a  colonel ;  ho  has  got  that  raidc ;  he  conunands  a 
regiment  or  company ;  he  is  a  connnander  of  a  circle  ;  the  majority 
of  the  meeting  assented  to  the  plan  proposed  by  Jolm  JM'Cad'erty 
and  Flood ;  some  of  tho  men  went  to  Chester  on  tho  IVIonday  I 
gave  information  to  the  authorities  at  Chester;  I  had  been  giving 
information  since  the  September  before ;  I  saw  tho  Fenians  going 
to  Chester  by  Birkenhead,  thence  to  Monk's  Ferry,  and  on  to  Ches- 
ter; I  went  to  Birkenhead  myself,  and  remained  till  one  o'clock; 
I  saw  at  least  five  hundred  Fenians  starting  from  Birkenliead  for 
Chester;  while  I  was  getting  my  ticket  at  the  railway  station,  a 
man  named  Gibbous  beckoned  me  to  go  back ;  I  went  to  him,  and 
he  told  me  he  was  directed  by  Captain  M'Callerty  and  tho  Fenian 
authorities,  to  go  back,  as  the  affair  in  Chester  was  sold  ;   all  who 
liad  nut  gone  ou  to  Chester  then  went  back ;  there  was  then  a  meet- 


timiAN   ITEROES  AND   MARTYBS. 


foffofAeJlniPrirano/Tlrcrs  <-ftll(.rTn»«     » 
tor;  and  wo  were  thn,  d    ^  ,"  "'°  f  T'"^'"'^^  ^'^'''^^"«'  ^^'"'- 

^'>'-  <l.o  final  instruction   a    otl."  "  'r''""''  """  ^^''^  >'»^"»-o 
Ai't"HlIc,rty  H,al„  till  I   aw  ,im         'T'  '"  l'''''^'^  '  "'"  ""^  -« 

announced  the  rising  would  taico  n,n  '  *^  '"'"''^  '*  ^^''^a 

"""«  to  go  I.  Hill.t.t.ct/Tn  1,0    o,    r  r""/''"  "'"  '  ^  ^"*  ^"«^'-"«- 
a.at  d^.... .  tl.at  .as  id^ ;:^;f^;:-'^  -  -^  Centre  of 

rercrrcd  to.  '  ^^^  J^^'usuies  projected  at  tbo  niectii.g 

The  Court  ruTrcT  from  tl,o  Crown. 
-fc'XaiiunalionrcsunK'd  — *f  ti.a»,    .• 

^dl,"  says  tI,o  ywiZr"  a   0    ^T""""?-    "  ^  '""'^ 
'^  cental  pLotog^ai^^To  •],!,„    ^Z^J;"'  '7'/"'"  ''"™ 

b;-o™,  «..c  trx:i  r  c ::  "Br™;  ^*'  "^^ 

'•I'm,  and  shai-rlj  an.n.lar  1^1,.  ^''^ating 

!^  the  type  of  a  work  It     'n'™''''  T*'  *""  "^ 

witU  the  c„„h,e.,  <^'«  ™  In  tf  I",  '"'  "•"''^^ 

vectran,  and  endeavors  to  im- 


188 


••f.<:i 


CAPTAIN    J(^IIN  m'cAFFERTY. 


>'  ■  •  •' 


l.  , 

it! 

ii ' 

" ! 

i 

i' 

1 

!■ 

1 

con- 


press  us  w.tli  the  belief  that  he  is  doing  what  he  _„„ 
sidcivs  an  act  of  virtue.     lie  is  not  believed ;  and  when 
Mr.  Dowse  cross-examines  him,  he  is  made  to  feel  that. 
>    He  asks  him  questions,  under  which  he  winces  and 
writhes,  but  in  vain.     Il(;  pins  his  shame  to  him  in  his 
despite,  and  makes  even  the  hardened  informer  blush. 
There  is,  however,  a  variation  iji  the  scene.     There  is 
an  argmnent  about  a  law  poiiit,  and  Mr.  Dowse  dis- 
putes with  the  Attovnej-General     The  Attorney-Gen- 
eral finds  fault  with  Mr.  Dowse's  manner,  and  Mr. 
Dowse  retorts  tliat  he  is  not  to  be  taught  manners  by 
the  Attorney-Gene.-al,  that  he  is  as  good  and  stands  as 
high  as  he  doe^,  though  he  has  not  the  harness  of  Gov- 
ernment on  his  back.     The  Attorney-General  subsides, 
and  is  decidedly  and  unnubtakably  snubbed." 

In  his  address  to  the  jury,  Mr.  Butt  alluded  to  his 
client  as  "  a  m.an  wlio  had  won  an  lionorable  charact  r 
on  fields  of  fame,  and  who  had  only  done  what  Eng- 
lislimen  gloried  in,  when  they  went  to  tight  with  Gari- 
baldi," and  held  that  there  were  no  two  witnesses  to 
prove  the  only  act  of  treason  which  affected  him,  as  the 
informer's  statement  was  not  corroborated.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  Mr.  Butt's  addi-ess,  Judge  Fitzgerald  eaid:   • 


II 


i  li 


ill:      ; 

i:  i 


John  M'Cafferty,  I  have  to  apprise  you  that  row,  after  your  ocui}- 
se)  has  spoken,  you  are  entitled— the  H^v  also  gives  you  the  privi- 
loge,  of  addressing  tlie  jury ;  and  if  you  have  anything  to  say  to 
the  jury,  this  ]r  the  proper  time  to  make  it. 

Captain  M'Cafferty  said ;  I  have  hat  one  staten.ent  to  malie,  and 
previous  to  making  tlia'  svatemeni,,  I  feel  ^)ound,  by  private  feelino.s, 
to  return  my  deep,  and  bounden,  and  sincere  thanks,  and  to  both 
of  them  I  do  so,  to  Mr.  Butt,  whom  I  consider  the  star  of  the  Iii,sh 


<:-..*•■; 


.-.iv^- 


A    .       * 


-t  he  con- 
iiid  when 
feel  that. 
iices  and 
im  in  his 
er  hhish. 

Tliere  is 
)wse  dis- 
loy-Gen- 
and  Mr. 
nners  hy- 
stands  as 

of  Gov- 
rahsides, 

d  to  his 
haract  r 
at  Eiip- 
th  Gaii- 
lesses  to 
n,  as  the 
the  con- 
[  eaid:  • 


3ur  ooui}- 
;he  privi- 
to  say  to 

lake,  and 

leclings, 

i  to  both 

the  Iri,sh 


PE.VIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS.  189 

I  was  acquitted  by  tt  ,Xs  „b,  """'^T"'  '"^""''  '*""""• 
«..  oviConce  W  L  ,  !  ,^:ro  <,'!  f  ^'  '*""'"'  ""- 
omor.    Tbey  discharged  m    wiulrj      """ "' "'"  """"'  P'""- 

to  the  Charge  o.o.J^.^''  ^^J..';?''"^  '"™''«''  -'  S..il.y 
milled  no  overt  art  ,.f  ,t  , .         ^^  ** '™"'-    I  ''ad  com- 

I  again  returned  witir  he  reX  anl^  "™,""^  '"'""'  "^  """""'^l- 
I  l.avo  been  led  to  bcl  evi^l  ,d  J  ™  J™f<Ii«ion  of  a-eat  Britain, 

fiom  my  conseic„ce_I  have'een  W  Z""  ';"™»«.  ^''"■"iug 
■"".«ont  of  n,y  arrest,  the  q1«  „f  °  f  .I":' ''-'  f™™  ^e 
tend  to  d,.al  fairly  wi  h  me  ITnn  ,  ?  ""■"  "'*  "<"  '"- 
l™n>osc  of  gainings  4,«hy  "'"  ""  ^'"™^'"  '°^  ^o 

Mr.  Eutt,  Q.  C—You  had  belter  not  stite  that     V     ,, 

Mr.  E.itt— I  really  and  sincerely  hone  tl.^t  n     .  •     ,., 
will  not  use  any  strong  langna.-o  l-ains   tl  e  P ""'  "^""'^'''y 
paid  .ne  a  complin.ent:  and^I  ^Sult  ^      .  riTfr^  1  '^  '" 
no  attack  upon  the  Government  nv  ,    Z        '  ^^°'"'  *°  ^^^ke 

M'Cafforty-I  beg  t^eTphr'  ';^'"^"""=  remarkable. 
«^e  ..nneri  whll  I  ^!;nt  br^^I "^^^^^^  r^^^ 

Chief  Justice-If  you  have  anything  to  .av  in  fh« 
l^ear  you,  but  th.  is  a  general  discursive  sfZont      v'"'/'  ^""' 
ter  confine  yourself  to  observations  uZ^Ta  «  "      '  '^'■ 

After  consulting  with  Mr.  La^vless  for  n  ih.^ 

t.addre.ingthej„^.said:zh::™;::"rir*: 


t'f 


[•Ill 


V.  ■* 


:!|l 


190 


CAPTAIN  JOHN   M'cAFFKliTY. 


cent-t  mt  I  have  not  commuted  any  ovo.t  act,  with  wl.ich  I  am 
*l.Hr,^c(l  w.thiM  ,  lu,  reain;  or  junsclicliou  of  Great  Britain. 
Mr.  Butt- TJ.at  is  quite  right. 

On  irondaj  May  6th,  tl.e  jury  returned  averdic^t  of 
guilty  on  all  the  counts.  Sentence  was  postponed  for 
Kiveral  clays,  to  liear  arn^ument  before  the  Couit  of 
Cnnunal  Appeals,  on  points  raised  by  Mr.  Butt,  wh'> 
declared  that  in  the  whole  range  of  state  trials,  perhaps 
there  was  not  a  single  case  which  involved,  he  would 
not  say  so  many  intricate  questions,  but  questions  goin.. 
so  directly  to  the  root  of  tlie  law  of  high  treason      It 

7'-''  ^rvfi::''  ^^'  ''^  '''''''^-  ^^  ^^'^  2()th  of  May,  Cap- 
tain  M  Cafterty  was  brought  into  Court,  and  beino- 
asked  what  he  had  to  say  why  ju<lg,nent  of  death 
Bhouhl  not  be  passed  upon  hitn,  in  a  clear,  unhesitat- 
iiig  voice,  he  said  : 

"My  Lords,  T  have  nofhLig  to  say  that  can,  at  this  advanced 
|=ta,.e  ot  th.s  irial,  ward  otf  ti.at  sentence  of  death.  I  nn^ht  asTeil 
hur my  o.npI.uut,  if  I  have  one,  at  the  orange  trees  of^  ^ 
Sout  ,  or  the  lotty  pine  of  the  great  North,  as  now  to  speaK  to  tl.o 
que  t.on  why  sc..tence  should  not  be  passed  upon  n.e,  a  cordhig  to 

of  that  sentence.     I  ],ave  been  brought  to  trial  upon  a  char-,  of 
high  treason  against  the  Government  of  Great  Britain,  and'^uilt 
has  been  brought  borne  to  me,  on  the  evidence  of  one  wUness,1  d 
that  wuness  a  perjured  informer.   I  deny,  distinctly,  that  there  bavo 
been  two  witnesses  to  prove  the  overt  act  of  treason  against  me! 
I  deny  distinctly,  that  you  have  brought  two  independent  w 
nesses  to  two  overt  acts.     There  is  but  .ne  witness  to  prove  2 
overt  act  of  treason  against  me.     I  grant,  and  freely  grani,  tint 
there  has  been  a  cloud  of  circumstantial  evidence,  to  slfot  m;con 
necon   if  I  „.ay  please  to  use  that  word,  with  the  Irish  peopk  in 
then-  attempt  for  Irish  independence,  and  I  claim  that,  as  L  luv^X 


FENIAN   nEROES   AND   MARTYRS.  .()■[ 

can,  and  as  an  alien,  I  have  a  right  to  sympathize  with  the  Irish 
peop  e,  or  with  any  otlxor  people  who  may  please  to  revolt  agah.st 
c'  Ivir^  1  ^'T™*  ^>^  ^^'^l^  they  believe  they,  are  tyranni- 
Li  1  ■  .1  «ynU^athized  with  America.  She  not  only 
ZT^'f  r  ^'''  ^""^  ^'"^'  '"PP''^  ^«  ^'"th  parties.  Who  ever 
In     f   ^;'f  l''^^'^^^  ^«"^S  ^«-r««ted  by  the  United  States  Govern- 

sZ  '  ^"'  t'"^  Z  '''''''  ^'^  ^'^^^^  ^^  ^'^^  confederation  of  the 
Sout  hern  Stntes,  or  of  being  placed  upon  his  trial  on  a  charge  of  high 
ticuson  ngamst  the  Government  ?     No  such  case  ever  appeared. 

I  do  not  (teny  but  that  I  have  sympathized  with  the  Irish  peo- 
rlc.     I  loved  Ireland,  and  I  love  the  Irish  people.     If  I  were  free 
to-morrow,  and  the  Irish  people  were  to  take  the  field  for  independ- 
ence, niy  sympathies  would  be  with  them.     I  would  join  them  if 
they  had  any  show  whatever  to  win  that  independence,  whUe  I 
would  not  give  my  sanction  to  the  useless  effusion  of  blood.    I  have 
done  It,  and  I  state  distinctly,  that  I  have  no  connection  whatever 
din^ctly  or  indirectly,  with  the  movement  that  took  place  in  the 
connty  of  Dublin.    I  make  that  statement  on  the  brink  of  my  grave 
Agaui,  I  chum  that  I  have  a  right  to  be  discharged  on  the  charge 
that  has  been  brought  against  me,  by  tlie  nature  of  the  law  by 
which  I  have  been  tried.     That  law  distinctly  says  that  you  must 
produce  two  independent  witnesses  to  prove  the  overt  act  of  trea- 
son against  the   prisoner.     I  claim,   and  claim  loudly,   that  you 
have  not  produced,  according  to  that  law,  these  two  independent 
wilnesses.     This  is  the  only  complaint  I  have  to  make.     I  make 
that  loudly.     I  find  no  fault  with  the  juiy.     I  have  no  complamt 
to  make  agamst  the  judge.     I  have  been  tried  and  tbund  guilty  and 
I  am  perfectly  satisfied  I  will  go  to  my  gi-ave.     I  will  go  to  my 
grave  as  a  gentleman  and  a  Christian.     Although  I  regi-et  that  I 
.should  be  cut  off  at  this  state  of  life,  still  many  noble  and  generous 
Irishmen  fell  on  behalf  of  my  Southern  laud.   I  do  not  wish  to  make 
any  llowery  speech  in  this  court  of  justice ;  and  without  any  fm-ther  ' 
remarks,  I  will  now  accept  the  sentence  of  the  court. " 

Tlic  dcatli  sentence  was  tlien  prononncea  by  Jiido-o 
Fitxgoruld,  after  wliicli  the  prisoner,  «Btili  iin«halceii> 
fipokoasfoUowa:  ' 


M 


192 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  M'cAFFEETY. 


ni  I 


"I  will  accept  my  sentonce  as  a  gentleman  and  a  Phv?of 
I  have  but  erne  request,  and  that  isf  aft  r"  e  exeluion  of  7'  ""^ 
tence,  my  remams  may  be  turned  over  to  Mr  T   I        °^  "^^^  ''^- 

iiiipssiii 

■-M  r,..  i,,.., .  ..  »Ji"~»~;',':';- 

Mr.  Lawless  then  shook  hards  with  the  prisoner 

who  immediately  retired  with  a  firm  stop       ^  ' 

The  gentleman  who  visited  Colonel  Bmirke  in  his 

ness.     I  passed  bevonrl  u   «  ^      ^  y^" '^^^  eyes,  of  ebon  dark- 

John  M-Catay,  dros.ec,  as  Z  hs.can^S^Jr^ttrlMr^:,' '•"''; 
fomi  as  ever,  but  now  knec-liiitf  wifi,  1,1.  '  ^'''wait 

Ms  hands  Caspec.  bonoaftrje  Lrun'r,,""'"'"'''''"''  ""^ 
Bclbro  Ms  J,„mUocl  brow  r«e  antoa^rlT  ,  "'  /"  •^™^'"- 
eyes.  fl,e  mos.  hopeful  .o  CbMarhlc     H'  T     '°  '''"'"""' 

orucmea.  The  ,oa,  b,w  of  <^z.j.::::zs:'^ 


Christian,  and 
»n  of  the  scn- 
5,  to  be  inter- 
possible  can. 
to  Mr.  Butt, 
on  prisoners. 
I  also  return 
cl  manner  in 
called  to  my 
nd  yet  some 
ot^  hope  that 
d  then  sank 
ful  and  sin- 
Jis  now  for 


prisoner, 

•ke  in  Iiig 
,  himself 


Mltnm  the  hand  a„a  f„„t  ,„i     ',       '"''"'^  S"'"'  "»' gore  tlm, 

mwmurs  reached  my  ear     ti,.  ''"'"">■' Presence     r™ 

doa-tte  prayer  of  TI;  abouTt::,"""™"'""^ P™^- Id  p  7 

- '"o';^^^^^^  was  eo.,„„. 

«>e  news  with  composure  o„H  ^"'''"<'''  ••«<='^ired 

--.  escort  to  the  kr^:;;:^  ,™;r  ''"^- " 


"gh  many 
The  door 
^ew  was 
3bon  dark- 
ice  on  (he 
trap-door, 
w  Captain 
1  stalwart 
•lied,  and 
prayer, 
>  Catholic 
geofthe 
ned  witli 


^  ■■ 


COLONEL  JOHN  J.   O  CONNOJB. 


COLONEL  JOim  J.  O'CONNOR. 

Born  on  Valentia  Island— Emigrates  to  America— Huns  off  and  joins  the 
Union  Array— Long  Service— Promotion— Gallant  action  at  Spottsylvanin— 
Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor— Firt^t  Lieutenant— Captain— Seriously  Wounded 
again  at  Petersburg— In  Command  of  his  Regiment-Mustered  out— Goes 
to  Ireland— Organizes  Kerry— The  Rising- Statement  In  the  House  of 
Lords— Reporter  Arrested  for  Telegraphing  Military  Disaffcctions— O'Connor 
Bent  to  America— His  Address  to  the  Public— Organizing  Tour. 

ALTHOTJGn  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  Military 
Chieftains  of  the  Brotherhood,  Colonel  O'Connor  has 
had  very  distinguished  experience  ;•  and  his  connection 
with  the  movements  in  Ireland,  being  the  first  to  raise 
the  flag  of  revolt  in  the  mountains  of  Kerry,  in  Feb- 
ruary 18G7,  gave  his  name  a  wide-spread  prominence. 
After  the  ftiilure  of  the  intended  demonstrations  on 
Chester,  the  insurrection  in  Ireland  was  postponed 
but  the  messengers  not  reaching  Kerry  in  time. 
Colonel  O'Connor  proceeded  to  carry  out  his  previous 
instructions,  and  in  so  doing,  showed  that  he  was  a 
man  for  the  occasion.  His  movement  followino-  the 
Chester  affiiir  created  great  consternation,  and  the 
telegraph  wires  conveyed  his  name  throughout  the 
British  Empire,  over  land  and  under  ocean,  to  this 
continent,  where  it  was  welcomed  and  toasted  by  his 
countrymen,  who  then  heard  of  the  gallant  youn^ 
soldier  for  the  first  time. 


Joins  the 

tsylvania — 

r  Woiuulcd 

out— Goes 

Honse    of 

—O'Connor 


Vrilitary 
mor  has 
mection 
to  raise 
in  Feb- 
linence. 
ions  on 
tponed 
1  time, 
•revious 
was  a 
Lno-  tlie 
ncl  the 
3nt  the 
to  this 
by  his 
joung 


:.^^^ 


*  m&. 


^:f^m 


' !      i 


IV  11. 


'JOU>NEl-  JOL 


C'^T/)?-  ■     roK^ 


!:<>.r: 


',     ''.  ■   ''    .     •'.  rti  ..»f  tl..,  galk.  i- 


O.-*' 


"ENUN   nnoEB  ANB  lUKTVM. 


''"o^ni  Tames  0'P,.>.  ' 

"•Hi  fii.nine  ],ad  su-ont  1%  /"■''''''''  >«"-'  o*'  lever 
«"'.>atecl  to  the  IT  e  g^te  ''  "'1^^^''  '"'^  '>"-"'' 
»  7  "ch  vicinity  tl.e  b„  C    r''^'  "'  ^-'o". 

ilaving  Kew  England  '^.^   ,     ¥  "  "P' 
-.tl'o  natural   ardor  of  f ?""'"'''« ^™-^"K.-aftcd 
<l«a-e<I  toj„i„  the  army  of  thllT     '  ^T^  O'^""""-- 
«™  •■ei.ellion  brolce  out    „      ?'"°V'''""  "'«  South- 
opposed  the  idea  in  consol  'J'^'""™  "solntoly 

o''«'capph-ea„,  lWeX"7  ^  '''?  y'-'>^'M,Js 
ie  could  not  be  dissimdo  I^tt  '""''"'° ''«"«!, 
--'.»o„.ed.    Lii.eTot'.iu^"^  ''-- 

.  ,  ,  ®   "'"^  """"  W'  sire  denied." 

-^t  last  Jie  mnrln.  i.' 

'°-o™.-ng  in  the  no  aTs''?''T'  """^  ""^  ^"S^t 
acquainung  in's  fricn    V  «£:"'"'  ''"^'  ™"'-' 
h>^.  home,  in  Braintree    to  t  ,    nv"  ^"'"'"''^'"^  fr^" 
enhsted  in  the  2Sth  E  4mc^t%r"^'  f ''°^'""  »d 
Volu.'teers,  under  the  n.mr„fT         ""••''"•'«««  (I''fel.) 
^ng. tl>e  assun,ed  ua„,e        1  f  i^^"^^  ^^nnors,  think- 
»gam»t  the  pursuit  of  ]„»  itil  ,    "'t'p  •'^^^"'^''^'"^"t 
ever,  discovered  him  and  oT         f"  '■'''•■"■^««.  ''oiv- 
to  ■■eturn,  i,„t  to  no  ^u"  tf'T'''^^  '°  P«-"-lo  him 

^fe.  was  jnst  seventeen  years  om'"'' '"■"l"  »"•" 
^eg.ment  departed  for  th^sel Uf  w^r  ""''  '^''"^  ^'^ 


■:if ! 


19G 


COLONEL  JOHN  J.   OX'ONNOB. 


a  ,  V 


Tlio  28tli  MiissuclniRotts  wart  destined  for  South 
Can  liiiH,  and  tlioro,  a?iiid  tlie  Hwainps  and  nnndy 
]»ljiinrt,  tlio  ri'niincnt,  atU'i'wards  bo  eniiiu'iitly  distiii- 
guislicd,  learned  tlio  duties  of  Holdier  lite.  O'Connor 
was  determined  to  be  a  soldier,  and  a  u;ood  ono.  Ilia 
first  act  was  to  send  home  to  his  motlier  for  military 
books,  on  the  receipt  t»f  which,  he  studied ;  and,  com- 
bining theory  and  ])ractice,  soon  mastered  many  ditH- 
culties,  and  made  himself  eminently  tit  to  rise.  J  lis 
yonth  and  quiet  disposition,  acted  agaiiist  the  desires 
of  his  ambitious  s[)irit,  and  kept  him  in  the  shade  for 
a  long  time.  It  was  two  years  before  he  achieved  his 
first  step  upward — a  corporal's  warrant,  which,  ho 
often  said,  he  was  prouder  of  than  a  commission  after- 
wards. During  this  time  the  28th — besides  the  move- 
ments on  Dawfusky  and  Tybee  Islands,  and  an  attack 
on  Fort  Munson,  James  Island — had  gone  through  the 
camj^aigns  of  the  Kapidan  and  Happahannock,  and 
the  still  more  momentous  campaign  in  IMarylarid, 
«haring  the  gloom  and  glory  of  the  second  Bull  Eun, 
Chantilly,  South  Mountain,  Antietam  and  other 
fights.  On  the  23d  November,  1803,  the  regiment 
was  transferred  from  thcKinth  to  the  Second  corps,  and 
assigned  to  the  Irish  Brigade,  under  General  Mojigher. 
A  year  passed,  and  O'Connor  secured  another  pro- 
motion in  being  made  sergeant.  Next  year  came  the 
great  campaign  of  18G4-.  At  the  battle  of  Sjiottsylva- 
nia  Court-TIouse,  in  the  memorable  charge  of  Han- 
cock's corps,  of  which  the  brigade  formed  a  part,  the 
ambitious  young  soldier  greatly  distinguished  himself. 
When  the  color-sergeants  were  ytm^k  down,  O'Connor 


■-RmAlf  HKPOKS  AM  UAHTTUB. 


197 

«l"'nni;f„nvnnl,  ,„„1  ,,„•„•„„    , 

Tl.i«  <i,.t  drj;    ;,,;:''''''•  ^"'  "-  '■^-  ...•  the  fi.o 

-'■  who,  a  woeic  ht^M^n  r  :r "'"'' ";t'^^^ 

•       noblo  rcj,„,,„t  '  ^?  "™  '^'«'"'  <"  tl'«  Lead  of  hi. 

C^'i  tJie  3d  Juno  O'n 
at  the  buttle  of  Cold  JhT"''  ""?  '""'"•'-•'•>'  ^<»""M, 

'"■•"'o.'^"t.„„ti,tl::\■l':i:tcIr'''•'^'"- 

BoIJier  had  won  li  "  ',"  ""-'"toiant,  the  jo„„k 

On  rejoiai,.,  I  ^    Ij         '"■;  :^™"»  "  ^jl"'  ''i^  Wood! 

ob..vod,  owing  to  th:r;-;:: fxL« ^'-""'- - 

two  eomi,,„iios.    I„  N„v™,|i>-  L  '      <"""'"'"'J 

tain.    But  one  offieer  of' tl  n  I''       ."^  '"'"'""""^  ^^P- 
on  the  muster-rolT  a,d  t    !      °' n',"'"''"''^''''""  '^"^ 

Boston,  the  tenu  of  service  I  "  ''--Wnient  to 

December,  1864  The  1  ^^'  f^''""^  ""  '''«  '^0* 
liad  not  expired  .„dtb  ?  "'"'  '"''"  *l'-«e  term 
to  the  eomrn    'd  ;    O-c::::""  *°"  '«  --"-t,  feu 

consolidated  his  com  L^^ "^  ^Z^V  ''T'"'    ^^« 
panics.  *"  "  "attalion  of  iivo  com- 

In  about  two  montlia  Wii,^,-  i?i„    • 
■■onnded,  returned,  and  S  ^f Ov' '"' ""''" '''"'  ''^■''" 
ehargo  of  his  conn  any     IV,,     ,0""''  "«""'  *""k 
again  advanced  totto,™  tlt\v„    :  I'  ""^.  ""  """^ 
and  here  again  Q-Connor  wa  ™  r  .  it",    ''"''"'"' 
from  which  he  still  auffe...     H   r^^^  !17t^'  ^""."*J. 

lejomed  his  regiment 


I    .     I|i:j 


COLONEL    JOHN  J.   o'cONNOB. 

a  few  days  previous  to  the  grand  review  by  President 
Joluison  and  General  Grant,  at  Washington,  on  the 
return  of  the  troops  at  the  end  of  the  Wcir.     He  was 
scarcely  able  to  be  present,  but  he  could  not  deny 
himself  the  soldier  pride  of  being  present  on  so  splen- 
did an  occasion.     After  the  review,  the  commanding 
officer  who  was  also  severely  wounded  at  Petersburg 
returning  home,  the  command  again  fell  to  O'Connor! 
The  battalion  was  mustered  out  on  the  lield  on  the 
last  of  June,  arrived  in  Boston,  July  5th,  and  was 
finally  mustered  out  on  the  22d  of  that  month.     Owing 
to  some  negligence  on  the  part  of  the  State  official^ 
the  gallant  young  soldier  did  not  receive  his  promotion 
as    Lieutenant-Colonel,   to   which   he    was    entitled, 
although  his  name  had  been  duly  sent  to  Massachusetts 
for  the  purpose  in  May. 

O'Connor  had  at  least  a  part  of  his  ambition  grati- 
fied. He  had  won  his  distinction,  but  his  health  was 
greatly  impaired.  His  wound  was"  open,  and  a 
relapse  taking  place,  he  was  again  prostrated,  and  all 
hope  of  his  recovery  given  up.  But  he  was  destined 
for  other  service. 

He  had  become  a  Fenian  while  in  the  army ;  and 
six  weeks  after  his  return  home  he  signed  the  Koll  of 
Honor,  to  serve  his  native  land  ;  saying  to  himself  "  I 
have  fought  for  the  stranger— surely  I  could  not  do 
less  than  fight,  and  if  need  be,  die,  for  the  land  of 
my  fathers." 

He  went  to  Ireland  and  landed  in  Dublin,  whence 
he  was  immediately  dispatched  to  the  County  Kerry, 
where  his  people  were  known,  and  for  which,  though 


fii 


PENIAK   HEEOES   iro  MAETOiS.  199 

he  had  little  i-ecolleetion  .^f  ,v  1  ■    1 
^-ith  those  feoli,""str.I,        '   "•'    '?''*  ''"'  •™'"-"*^" 
inspire.     Tlu're  ±  f      r""-''  '»'■"'-'"'■»«  «ver  must 
notnptotha  ti-no      ^^ ^' ''">'™« i"  Kc"-,y,  audit  l,ad 

rjght  He  orga„i.,.d  the  cou'r  Id  t  "™.  '"' 
closely  watehed,  managed  so  as'  Z  M^  ™'^ 
for  a  long  time      Aftr.^V     •  ""1  suspicion 

l..eK-,  he  tvas  Wd  t"  e  rtl,!  ^ ""  "'"^  "™'"  ^^-^ 
eonnti,,  where  the  p  opTe  t  ndeTr:  i™'  '*^  '"  *''« 
and  were  constantly  on  the  Too  ,  /^  T'"'^ '™°'' 
The    police  were  oVn   on  ,  jT    "   i^  ^^  '''''^• 

.     »,^W-^bythefaithfXessof    lepetleaSdr    "" 
celerity,  to   evade   them    until    ill '      7      "  °^ 

continual  watching,  beS.  a     Lor       n  "^T"    ^'* 

wound  coming  agf  nst  hhn  1,.^        ""f"''    ""''  ^'' 

Pelled    to    leaveCsc""^     «•''-  "''"*'^''""^- 

England.  "'  '"'^  ^'^    operations    for 

With   returninn.  henlfli     i,„ 
I^ovember,  and  ente  3  ]i  I  I  .   '"    "'^    '^'°<'l^''*  in 

adetective'ofHce  He  again  :r r""'^'  '^''^™«  - 
and  instructing  the  «cli?  ,  °  ''''"■''■'  P'-cP»ing 
Jy  desired  to  ifn  wl!a7,  !  "  T  '^'  '.'-^  »-'  -'-ous^ 

H.entl„.siasticl.t:,t"::Sfr^;:'':^^■TT•■ 

military  experienoo      «?.^,..  ^-  ™^*  ^^  ^"s 

in  view,  from  want  of  money  or  o  he!      '  '"°^^"«" 
nor  would  replv  •  "  M.^^T  ■  "*''""'"'  ^'Con- 

thc  dauntlesslLge^-Je^w';;*  f ,  7  '''''''  >">' 
^e'vestoa  .use  which  the;^^^ r  I^  «- 


If, 


■">;& 


U&^SSSSiSift. 


200 


COLOITEL  JOHN  J,  O'CONN-OK. 


m 


I  I' 

Is       fv 


Buccessfal,  hnt  whose  graves  will  form  the  ramparts 
over  which  ollicrs  will  achieve  victory." 

At  last  O'Connor  received  orders  to  commenco 
operations,  and  immediately,  and  with  cool  deter^ 
mination,  issued  his  orders. 

For  the  reasons  previously  stated,  the  Kerry  move- 
ment  was  allowed  to  die  out ;  but  not  before  the  most 
wide-spread  excitement  and  anxiety  had  been  created. 
This  was  widened  by  the  statement  made  in  the 
House  of  Lords  on  14th  February.  In  reply  to  an 
inquiry  by  the  Marquis  of  Clanricarde,  the  Earl  of 
Derby  said ; 

"  I  can  entirely  understand  the  anxiety  which  the  noble  Marqnis 
and  your  Lordships  must  feel  with  regard  to  the  unfortunate  cir- 
cumstances which  have  occurred  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours, 
and  I  also  recognize  to  the  fullest  extent  the  duty  of  withholding 
nothiug  from  your  Lordships.     And  though  the  information  which 
we  possess  is  only  such  as  can  be  received  by  telegram,  and  is, 
therefore,  m  the  highest  degree  meagi-o  and  unsatisfactory,  I  mx 
perfectly  ready  to   state,   without  reserve,  all  the  circumstances 
that  have  come  to    our  Icjiowledge.      Yesterday   afternoon  wo 
received  information  by  telegi-am  that  between  Mallow,  Valentia, 
and  Killarney  the  telegraphic  wnos  had  been  cut ;  and  by  telcrams 
subsequently  received  we  learned  that  they  had  been  repaired,  and 
that  the  Company  were  regularly  patrolling  the  line  for  the  piuposo 
of  its  protection.      Last  night,    a  little  before  11   o'clock,   wo 
received  telegi-aphic  mfoi-mation  to  the  effect  that  an  outbreak  had 
certainly  taken  place— we  do  not  know  in  what  numbers,  or  how 
fai-  armed— but  that  at  Cahu-civcen  the  Coast-guard  stalicm  had 
been   sacked,  and  that  a  messenger,  a  mounted  policeman,  hud 
been  shot  by  a  body  of  insurgents.     We  received  information  this 
morning  that,  although  the  man  had  been  shot  at,  he  had  not  beeu 
IdUed,  but  his  arms  and  horse  were  taken  possession  of  by  tho 
mob.     Our  information  further  went  on  to  say,  that  great  appre- 


rENlAIT  11EE0E8  AND  MAETrRS. 


.      ,  201 

tensions  wero  entertained  in  the  town  nf  T-n 

it  ^va,  said  that  the  ,uob  ZoZ  T  ,        Iv.llarney,  npon  which 

'  Haninls  knows,  is  di  Hn    Z    nT    "^-     ''^^'*'   ""  *^«  ""^^° 

etoly  fof  tho  movement  of    vn    ''^  ''"^^"^°  mstmctions  imniedi- 

■       T.alee,  and  also  W  e  c,     T  t:^'""  T'"^  ^'^^  ^-^' 

tim  night  three  subsequent      ";L«.r^^^^^^^^^ 
'   ^^thatth.  first  detalnont  ta    .If^^  of  which  informed 

jndthat  tha  second  was  ox,^cL  There  L  T""  ^*  ^^'"--^3^» 
tom-a.     1  learned  to-day  fron    Lord   S  L  '""'''  "' ^  ^^^ 

Itientof  five  hundred  mc^w  re  orlnT'  '''''  ^  ^^^^^aeh- 
atid  ah-eady  aiTived  at  ^017  '"^'"^  ^'^"'  ^'^«  Cmragh, 

these  measures  ufTord  d  ^  '   ^^^^^  to  learn  thai 

Killarney,  .nd  that  no  furt  er  o^^^^^^^^^^^  "^  «-  P-Pl«  of 

we  understand,  that  tha  poh'e  MnaH^^f '^  ^"'^^^^^  '"^^P*'  ^« 
the  same  party  which  StlT r!  ^'"'  '^''^^  ^"acked  by 

that  they  apprLhefan;^^^^^^^^^^^  We  have  not  heard    * 

Of  Bny  symptom.,  of  dlslurhnnl  •  '^^'""™^>'»  ^^i'  ^'-^ve  we  heard 
It  Will  aIso'b«  saHsfaoto^  tr:  '"  T  ?'"  ^^'^  "^  '^'^  -""^^y. 
Wan-estedLomr^t^^^^^  *"  ^^"^^  that  wa 

When  arrested,  Ls  proc    a^^^^^^^^  «^  ^^^'--veen,  who. 

and  was  taken  with  LZly  ^  'ilt  '"""'"'  ^' ''''  "^«"^=«^ts 
I  believe  that  the  fee  ^^  of  I  "T  ^'"''''''  "^  '^^^  P^^^^'^^^on 
outbreak  produced  tgr^L?^^^^^^^^^  r^  ^^^^^  this  suddeu 
^'It  It  my  duty  to  hold  iT^T^  nf  rTn""  ^^^^^^^  ^ 
Commander-in-Chief,  the  Secret  of  St!  %  T^  "^^^^^"^^^  *^« 
ment,  and  Lord  Kaa's.  Chief  Setaiyfrj"  "^^^^^'- ^^P-'t- 
thatLord  Kaaa  ehould  proceed  to  T,.  "'"'  '^  ^^^^«  ^'^^^led 

ingly  did  50  at  n  ver/c.^vTol  ,/  ''"^  ''!*  ""^^ '  -"^^  ^^«  ^^cord- 
Wl  Strathnairn  staL tft  he "  ^o^ ^ 'S.I  r^  :'''''^  '^"^ 
l>Ight.     I  have  no  reason  to  beC  thx     h  ''  '^°  '""'^  *''- 

outbreak;  atthe  same  tin.e  notte  Ins  hi  ''  '"""'  '''"  '"^  ^"^^' 
that «..  utmost  vigUanc.  il  T^^Z^"  "  ""■^'  '"■^^^^- 

la  reply  to  the  tclegrapl,,  troops  were  ritshorl  . 
KiUame^  by  special  train.    Six  li.dred  n^fof  tiL' 


K  ——III  jujr'j-T 


if         il 


202 


FENTAIT   HEROES   ATTO  MARTYRS. 


P 


Forty-ciglitli  and  Sixtli  ro.c.|mcnts  arrived  from  Ke^r- 
bridge  in  a  special  train  of  ni.uteen  carriages,  also 
three  hundred  ot  tho  Fourteenth  foot  from  Fermoy 
and  one  hundred  and  iifty  of  the  Sixtieth  rifles  from 
Cork,  under  Colonel  Palmer-the  wliole  force  beinc. 
connnanded  by  Brigadier  Sir  Alfred  llosfo  rd 
^  The  correspondent  of  the  Cork  Herald,   who  c.ot 
iiinsell  into  trouble,  gave  the  following  idea  of  tho 
insurgent  chief:"     "  I  l.ave  not  heard  that  they  have 
made  any  arrests;  and  if  the  current  rumors  be  credit- 
ed,  It  IS  not  likely  that  the  young  man,  O'Connor,  who 
commands  the  Fenians,  will  allow  his  men  to  be  arrest- 
ed      He  has  the  character  of  being  a  brave,  resoluta 
soldier,  who  served  with  distinction  in  the  Americau 
army,  and  that  he  will  make  his  band  of  followers-to 
use  the  words  of  an  old  song-'  conquer  or  die.'   O'Con- 
nor  IS  said  to  be  as  great  an  artist  in  personal  disguises  ' 
as  Stephens    himself,   and  though  moving  aboitt  the 
country  for  many  months  past,  he  all  through  eluded 
the  vigilance  of  the  police,  who  were  most  desirous  to 
meet  him.     He  is  by  birth   a  Kerryman.      Captain 
Moriarty   also   served    in  the   American   armv,   and 
Sheehan  who  is  lodged  with  him  in   tho  county  fail, 
fought  in  the  Papal  Brigade,  and  was  wounded  at 
feiJoletto." 

^  The  rising,  indeed,  as  was  natural,  gave  the  publio 
journals  extensive  business.  Every  one  of  them  seem- 
ed  to  have  a  special  correspondent  in  that  Count  v 
and  amid  the  abundance  of  rumors,  picked  up  froni 
the  soldiers  as  well  as  the  people,  and  circulated  freely, 
so.ne  amusing  and  interesting  scenes  were  embedded!   ' 


COLONEL   JOHN  J.    o'cONNOR. 


203 

insurrection    nor  xvlZ      \,         "'^  ""S^Kcd  in   the 

ook  possession   of  tho  lino,  of  1,         ?™"""™' 
juaiciously  or  othorwiso  T  !„  ''''''S™pl!~wl,etl.or 

-d  noth,^,  haf;ry::;7:r:.n '■^^"'°^-- 

-hatever   ca.no   throngh   tZroLCZT'lT' 
leanicd,  Iiowevor  fhnf  ,'«     i  ,       viands.     1  have 

cut,  so ne   o      I 'o  F  :  ","T  '-^T  *^  ^^"'^^  ^^''^ 

J-l>t  up'  „  l:tl  .rt^^T'^T  ^°^^'"^' 
Dublin.    Just  fancy  a  olffT  ""t'^oritios  in 

-no  sn^oLin.  and^t^X^^l^ '^f '"  %'r 
more  practiced  Juinds  arc  busHv  .  ,      "  "^  *« 

>nossage  li,<e  tno  followi::  to  BSli^^'o  ir'"'  ^ 
"P  in  arms,  led  l,y  Captahi  Moria  ty"  all  !  t?'"*' 
espocalJy  in  the  mountainous  dsto  T'  ""y- 
send  ,yord  what  troops  are  c.nni,,,  .  a"  ^l"-'"'"'  ""<! 
rants  for  tlio  arrest  of  m"  ^""wer-' War- 
.lespatohed  hy  s;:.c t  l^;!:;:'^  ^"^'  «'«»-■•  -e 
i'-o.n  Currash,  I)„bi;n"nd™ork '"       "^^  '""  "''^"''^ 

A  reward  of  £250  for  O'Connor  faiJe    f    •  « 
tlic  ,)eo]ile,  save  in  doulilfn^  tl,„      «•  '°  '"flnence 

authorities'  and  sln'dd  tSS^f '"'^  '"  '"■^'-d  tho 

completely  nullified  the  eCttiftoIr  wt 


204 


FENIAN   IIKROES   AND  MARlTRg. 


I  I  I'j 
li  I  H 


"  i 


!# 


made  by  his  incarceration,  and  gave  extensive  expo- 
sure  to  tlie  trepidation  into  whicli  the  officials  had 
ftillen  tliroiigli  fear  of  military  disatfection  at  this 
time.  The  following,  trom  the  Cork  Examiner,  brief- 
ly sets  forth  the  fact,  and  the  state  of  feehng  it 
aroused :  , 

.  *'  A  new  feature  in  Irish  government  has  been  exhibited  by  the 
police  magistrate  who  has  charge  in  Killarney,  and  one  winch,  we 
thmlf,  IS  calculated  to  set  the  public  seriously  thinking  wheth(,r 
here  really  is  any  liberty  left  us  in  this  countiy.     As  the  matter 
has  reached  us,  a  reporter  employed  by  the  Cork  Herald  was 
arrested  and  has  been  imprisoned,  and  is  still  in  close  confinement 
because,  m  the  discharge  of  liis  vocation,  he  offered  for  transmis- 
sionby  telegraph  a  message  bearing  tue  heading,    '  Disatfection 
amongst  the  Mihtaiy.'    If  this  be  the  case,  then  the  suspension  of 
the  Hahcm  Corvus  is  not  the  only  indignity  the  country  has  to 
suffer.     The  liberty  of  every  man  is  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
resident  magistracy,  and  there  needs  neither  Act  of  Parliament 
nor  warrant  of  law  to  render  Irishmen  as  liable  to  the  caprice  of 
the  stipendiary,  as  the  Oriental  of  the  Arabian  Nights  is  to  that  of 
his  Cadi.     There  is  added  to  the  stoiy  a  statement  that  Mr  Tracey 
was  only  saved  from  the  indignity  of  being  marched  to  prison 
handcuffed,   by  the  interference  of  a  military   ofticer      TJiis  is 
merely  a  circumstance  in  aggravation  of  the  insolence  of  the 
outrage,  but  it  does  not  m  the  least  degree  affect  the  principle 
Under  the  despotic  government  of  France,  the  transmissi(m  of  false 
news  is  punishable  by  law;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  that 
state  of  things  existed  only  at  the  will  of  an  autocrat,  and  latelv  it 
has  been  very  much  modified.     But  under  our  glorious   constitu 
tion  the  Press  has  been  supposed  to  be  free.     We  certainly  wro 
under  the  impression  that  it  had  a  license  to  disseminate  news  as 
accurately  as  it  could  be  gathered,  and  that  the  questi.m  of  truth 
or  falsehood  was  left  to  the  unfettered  discretion  of  the  conductors 
But  we  are  rudely  awakened  by  this  act  of  the  police  magistrate* 
It  appears  that  there  is  vested  in  Mr.  Greene,  R.  M.,  and  Ms  like 


OOIOUEL  Joim  X,  O'COMNOB. 


205 

oe  8u,tul  lo  h.s  lastc  or  not  puUiahiHl  at  all.     We  thou.^ht  it  wa, 
g".ng  protly  far  whon  the  m.«agos  for  the  pros,  were  aU  "bLZ 

fir       r  "'='  ™'"Pl"">'  "■!  tliat  s<»ro.     It  is,  however  dlf 

f  reut  when  t  ho  personalliberty  of  members  of  the  Pros^TsIte^ 

wh.  ttlie  fuc  .were  to  tlie  contrary,  notwithstanding^ 
th^t  any  of  the  troops  were  diBaffected,  a,rd  Mr.  Ma- 
thew  Tracey  was  only  released  from  prison  npon  liis 
givms;  £50  bail,  and  two  sureties  in  £25  each  to  a,, 
pear  at  the  Tralee  Assi.es,  in  answer  to  the  cha  1  S 
hS:  W^^"'  -^""-^  ..^^represented^er' 
Colonel   O'Connor  baffled    the  troops  and  police 
and  was  despatched  to  the  United  States  by  the  par! 
jes  dn-eettng  affairs.     He  arrived  in  New  York  abont 
the  mzddle  of  May,  and,  having  reported  to  the  Execu- 

r.Lr.o>y-Cot™TM.^_No  doubt  many  of  -on  will  thlnkm; 

pcJ^lenoe  B,  T,T''",  '"  """'' ™  *"  «'™a"«  f"' I™h  inde- 
8U  o„„,  officers,  ,„  asic  you  for  the  help  which  we  need,  and  whieh 
was  pr„„„sed  to  us  by  m;u,y  amongst  you  before  we  emb.arire7ia 
^ZZZT  -T"  "«','■""«'"»  -«™ce  that  we  we." 


206 


PENIAN    HEKOES   ANT)   MARTYRg. 


i  ' 


lUil 


When  I  left  Ronton,  in  the  fall  of  18G5,  the  Fenian  Brotherhood 
W  s  u  un.  ed  and  w.-ll  organized  body,     When  I  reached  Irehnd  I 
set  about   he  duty  assigned  to  n.e,  and  since  then  I  have  fulfilled  i 
to  the  bcs  of  n>y  ability,     We,  in  Ireland,  could  never  understand 
^  hy  a  spht  could  occur  among  our  friends-why,  at  the  last  n.on'^  , 
^hen  we  were  ready  to  commence  a  great  and  glorious  struggle- 
when  there  were  over  three  hundred  American  olHeers  in  all  ^arts 
of   he  country_of  all  ranks-men  trained  in  many  a  hard  foug'  t 
battle  against  slavery,  and  who  were  willing  and  ready  to  lead  L 
n-n  o   Ireland  to  victory  or  death.     Brothers  and  fcllow-eoun.ry! 
men,  these  men  were  not  fools,  as  some  represent  them ;  they  were 
not  earned  away  by  enthusiasm.     They  knew  what  they  had  to 
contend  agmnst,  and  they  knew  our  advantages.     They  lc>ft  ihia 
country  with  the  full  consent  and  counsel  of  all  Ihe  Trmherhood 

3.   M    n  '  "^'^  ''"'■'^'  '^  ''''^  ''^^•"^•«*  ^"«  l'-«t  man  I  saw 

was  Mr.  Roberts.     -  Go, "  said  he,  -  and  God  bless  you.     Tell  our 
fnends  at  home  that  before  three  months  are  over  we  will  all  mee 
on  Insh  sod.''    I  never  saw  bin.  aft..,  nor  did  we  in  Ireland  eve 
receive  from  hnn  one  dollar,  one  musket,  or  one  man.     If  he  is  an 
honest  man,  if  he  is  a  true  man,  why  did  he,  at  the  eleventh  hour    ' 
cause  a  disturbance  in  the  camp  ?     Fellow-countrymen,  do  not  ibr 
one  moment  imagine  that  the  cause  at  home  is  lost  or  broken  up 
or  in  danger  of  being  so.     Though  our  hated  foes  are  expending 
millions  to  accomplish  that  end,  the  spirit  and  principles  of  tli^ 
men  are  as  buoyant  as  ever,  and  will  be  while  there  is  an  officer 
left  to  lead  them.    In  our  ranks  at  home,  there  are  men  of  all  classes 
and  professions.  .  The  real  thinking  men,  and  the  men  who  lovo 
th  ir  country,  are  with  us.     There  are  many  men  of  high  standliL 
an    position  who  would  like  to  reap  the  advantages  of  a  revolution 
w.  hou  having  to  encounter  its  risks.    These  are  always  hesitatin!" 
under  the  plea  that  the  time  has  not  yet  come,  wait  till  fa     .^e' 
When  our  undertaking  is  crowned  with  success,  they  will  bcAvllI* 
mg  to  take  sides,  and  share  the  glory  and  victory.     Until  then     4" 
xiuist  be  content  with  their  sympathy.     From  them  we  expect  n'olh! 
;ng,  and  will  get  nothing.  .  -Fellow-countrymen,  do  not  believ     l 
newspaper  reports  from  Ireland.    With  a  few  honorable  exceplion 
they  are  aU  u,  the  pay  or  in  the  interest  of  the  English  en  my 


COLONEL  JOHN  J.    o'cONNOB. 


207 

f  f  kT^r.^^^^^^^     "  ""  '^""^  '^^  ^•^-*^'  '"  ^^«  "-«  of  Ireland, 

nsoncr  to  the  tender  mercies  of  PentonvlUe.     Do  not  wait  until 

mv  word  imri  T  otni-  ,.r  ""t-^ion.     jjut  I  am  a  man  of 

^..  a:;it:i\r  :r':fe:r  err  r^^^^ 

a  at.m»„tl:,„vo  madoin  roferoncco  Ireland;  a„dTiZh°e"who 

°        "r7?  7'"""°  """''^  """  ~l"'->.«'.>s  of  an  army    h  v 
a  .  c,m,„,„„t  tl,:.t  if  our  co„,»,.y,„™  in  Ammca  do  W«" Itv  o 

ft  ly  a 'd  ,,  us  „,«  '"™,  "•    ™"  ""''"  >''"  "'"  •">  «°  f«'-- 

a,:;;:.;  :f „o7 ,  r™:  "reT:? ""' '"™""  --  '"'" 

.an.,  and  a.  ,.,.,,..,  .o  ,1.303 I^a'^^S  trll 
better  prospects  of  success.     We  have  the  luUo.t  n     ^ 

Wdl  ,1,0  risk  I  an.  ,.  'iTlVT  T?  "^  '"=""■  ""■'"■'"« 

Who  w.,e  .0  long  ,;,  ,- "X         '  ""  """  "''^•^om.s 

those  noble  men  now  suffi.-ino-  in   RHH.h  '"''"'"  "^ 

.an.  or  „,y  ,„„a„  eon.-ad:;.:  ^ llX:',- 1:'  C  ^^ 
idnrn.     You  can  assist  us  il'  you  will      Let  r,lm  „,i       T  ^ 

a.  ho,ne,  .,,adi„g  tl.e  aeeounts'of  our  „'l  171?"""^ 
on  the  hill3,  paliently  waitin-  for  the  cxnected  ,;  I  i  ^' .  "'* 
beware  of  the  everlastln,  .h^e  a^^  diC^ a^illT^MtT  i'ft; 


208 


FENIAK   HEROES  AND  MARTYR8. 


cannot  say  that  ho  has  done  his  part  in  the  noble  work— the  over- 
throw oftlu!  vumplre  that  now  mcks  tlie  i;te-l)lood  of  our  people. 

To  tlioHc  who  were  memberH  of  the  F((nlaii  IJrotluirliood  wluin  I 
went  to  Ireland,  I  partieularly  appeal.  Contiiling  in  youi-  assist- 
ance, I  went  to  risk  my  life  for  my  comitry.  Whatever  may  be 
the  inducements  held  out  to  you,  which  caused  you  to  give  your 
assistance  to  other  parties,  I  ask  you  now  to  be  no  longer  led  astray 
by  false  lights  and  specious  speech-makers. 

Return  to  your  allegiance,  and  unite  with  those  who  are  willing 
to  give  their  all  to  aid  us  in  the  fight  for  liberty.  In  conclusion,  I 
can  only  say  that,  whether  you  aid  us  or  not,  we  will  not  abandon 
the  cause.  We  will  not  leave  our  comrades  to  rot  and  die  in  the 
dungeons  of  Pentonville  and  Mountjoy,  williout  making  an  elfort 
to  rescue  them,  or  share  their  fate.  The  straggle  has  only  com- 
menced, and  it  will  end  only  with  the  death  or  imprisonment  of 
the  last  of  us,  or  we  will  leave  our  country  better  than  we  found  her. 
Yours,  ever  taithlully  and  fratenially, 

John  James  O'Connor, 
Colonel  I.  R.  A.,  and  Charge  d" Affaires  for  Kerry. 

Previous  to  Colonel  O'Connor's  arrival,  Mr.  John 
Savage  had  made  arrangements  for  a  tour  through 
Massachusetts,  in  aid  of  the  Irish  cause,  and  to  instil 
among  the  Circles  the  necessity  of  union  among  Irish- 
men for  the  love  of  Ireland.  Colonel  O'Connor  visited 
many  towns  with  Mr.  Savage.  Subsequently,  the  Col- 
onel went  on  an  organizing  tour  in  Michigan,  and  the 
shores  of  Lake  Superior.  He  was  also  a  delegate  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  sixth  National  Congress,  which 
assembled  21st  August,  in  New  York,  and  acted  on 
some  importt=int  committees. 


m 


CAPTAIN    MORTIMER    MORURTT. 


209 


lin 


on 


CAPTAIN  MORTIMER  MORIARTY. 

ot  hi.  Am»l_Wtat  mLJS-T°MEl      '  '?  '■"'"■  c„n,m«„d-<?a,„„ 
Gunty-Seatcnce.  "~^''"'"'"'=«  »' ">«  Sp,  Tulbot-Foiind 

Ufe  for  it!  '^   ^         '""^^"'^^  *^  ^'•^^^'^«^e  his 

.  Mortimer  Moriarty  is  a  native  of  the  Parish  of  P 
hirciveen,  Coiinfv  nf  Tr^,  ■■  "  '^^  ^^- 

denci..,  led  ,.™  to  the  eo.^ltf  a     ^^  ^^^^^^^ 

join  t„e  a™ed  Zts^a   ct^' ^^  ™i^;  ^-^  '» 
weeks  in  confinement,  MoHart/ anXn-p^lS 


r 


ft  "'' 


1 


fll 


ll  'II' 


210 


FENIAN    UEKOKS    AND    MARTVttS. 


tlunr  escape— mncli  to  the  horror  and  cha«?rin  of  the 
Canadians— throiicrh  an  iindornjroiind  i)assa«j;c,  and,  af- 
ter further  adventures,  reached  New  York.  Captain 
Moriarty  Bailed  for  Irehind  in  Decenil)(a',  18(50,  and 
was  despatched  by  Col.  T.  J.  Kelly  to  take  O'Connor's 
place  in  Kerry,  in  the  belief  that  the  latter,  according 
to  report,  had  been  captured. 

Meeting   O'Connor,  he   was   induced  to  remain  in 
charge  of  the  locality  surrounding  Cahirciveen ;  and 
took  up  his  residence  about  four  miles  from  that  place 
under  the  assumed  name  of  O'Shca,  which  seemed  a 
very  important  fact  in  the  eyes  of  the  Solicitor-General, 
who  traced  up  Moriarty's  movements  in  these  words : 
"From  Christmas,  18G6,  till  February,  he  lived  at 
Connor's,  and  had  no  ostensible  employment  whatever. 
He  made  frequent  visits  to  Cahirciveen,  and  said  ho 
came  to  Ireland  for  the  bcneiit  of  his  health.     In  Ca- 
hirciveen there  is  a  reading-room,  where  dances  are 
frequently  held,  and  I  think  I  am  justified  in  stating 
it  was  used  not  only  for  the  purposes  of  innocent  re- 
creation, but  as  a  place  where  Fenians  resorted.     On 
the  evening  of  the  11th  of  February,  Moriarty  was  at 
the  dance  there  with  O'Eeilly,  who  had  been  convicted 
as  a  Fenian  at  these  assizes.    About  the  first  of  Febru- 
ary, J.  J.  O'Connor  was  stopping  at  the  house  of  a  man 
named  Kelly,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  Moriarty 
was  living.     O'Connor,  as  I  am  instructed,  was  "  Cen- 
tre "  for  Kerry.    We  have  thus  brought  into  proximity 
the  prisoner  with  other  leading  members,  and  we  have 
him  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Atlantic 
cable.     On  the  12th  of  February,  the  morning  which 


CAITAIN  MonmiEB  MORUKIT.  21 1 

prccodc.l  tI.o  attack  o„  the  coast-ffuarf  .s.atf,,,,  at  TCdls 

m     tlo  s,oot,n.  of  I),,.,a„-,l,o  ti.no  fixe.1  to.,  t "j 

>'>'ing  to  ako  place Kcerally  i,,  thh  cotuitry-Moriartv 

proeeeded  on  the  ,„ail  ca.-iVo,„  Cahircivooi  to  K     .^ 

"  J  D  SlU  p'  'T'""  "'"'  '■"'""'  "  ••^"•'^  directed 

to  meet  you,  I  „,„,  ^  ever,  j.  j.  o'CONNOli!'.  * 

The  Rev.  Father  Lavelle  gives  thotbllowino-aeeonnt 
o  he  cause  of  Captai.  Moria.t/.  arrest,  a!,d  o  ' 
excitmg  cu-cnmstanees  attondins  the  Kerry  risin-.- 

less  girl  came  to  a  Mr.  Galway,  J   }>    „,„.„,  ,„  r      , 
Castlerosse,  at  Killarney,  with'^  an  .y.  ,„'' ,    .i:"  I 
say  that  'Captah,  Murty  Moriurty '  i„„i.ne"„'h 
way  ne.xt  day  or  actually  was  „„  l!ia„eom's  ea"fr    , 
Cah,re.vee„  to  lu  h.r„ey,  bearing  in.portant  despatch 
fiom     Gonend  O'Connor,'  Head  Centre  of  the  South, 
to  a    brother 'na„>ed  Sheehan,  in  the  latter  town 
The  agent  and  J.  P.,  ,vit,.3ome  Mr.  Coltsn.an  or  other 
took  the  alarm,  and  sent  off  a  posse  of  police  to  meet 

paity  thus  informed  against.    This  was  easilj  accom- 


1(  )l 


212 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTTES. 


pliBhed,  as  liis  distinctiYe  features  were  described,  he 
having'  lost  a  portion  of  the  nose  in  the  recent  Ameri- 
can war.  Unfortunately,  he  had  on  his  person  papers 
from  O'Connor,  introducing  him  to  Sheehan  as  deputy 
for  that  part,  and  jirescribing  an  immediate  plan  of  ac- 
tion. At  least  so  the  story  is  told.  Sheehan  was,  of 
course,  arrested,  and,  with  Captain  Moriarty  and  a  man 
named  Garde,  conveyed  to  Tralce  jail.  The  same  niglit 
the  wires  of  the  telegraph  were  cut  simultaneously  at 
two  places,  forty  miles  assunder — ten  miles  to  the  east 
of  Ivillarnev,  and  twentv-eiii;ht  miles  to  the  west,  on  the 
Yalentia  line.  The  coast-guard  station,  eX  Ivells,  was 
attacked,  and  the  arms  found  therein  seized,  but  no  in- 
jury done  to  the  men.  ISText  day  and  niglit  the  magis- 
trates met,  panic-striclven,  at  the  Railway  Hotel,  Killar- 
ney,  and  kept  tejegraphing,  like  very  furies,  to  Dublin 
and  Cork  for  '  more  troops.'  And  so  troops  have  arri- 
ved— arrived  next  day  from  both  places,  to  the  amount 
now  in  all  of  one  thousand,  and  under  the  command 
of  a  Brigadier-General  Ilorsford.  This  officer  was  sent 
especially,  from  Aldershot,  to  take  the  command. 

"  On  the  arrival  of  the  Cork  detachment,  at  3.30  in 
the  morning,  they  were  told  off  to  meet,  and  beat,  and 
kill  and  capture  the  insurgents.  But  no  insurgent  had 
they  the  good  or  bad  fortune  to  encounter.  At  night 
other  squads,  accompanied  by  the  young  Mr.  Herbert, 
M.  P.,  (I  think,)  set  oif  to  surround  the  wood  of  the 
Toomies ;  but  after  passing  a  dreary  night,  no  insur- 
gents did  they  meet,  nor  does  it  appear  that  one  has 
been  encountered  yet  by  any  of  the  detachments.  ' 

"  But  on  the  arrest  of  Captain  Moriarty,  an  orderly 


CAPTAIN   MORTIMER  MORIARTT. 


213 


was  despatched  with  instructions  to  Yalentia,  and  be- 
ing 'net  on  the  road  by  a  number  of  armed  men,  was 
re<iuested  to  halt  and  deliver  his  papers.     He  refused, 
drawing  his  sword  and  striving  to  make  away  from  the 
assemblage.     He  was  galloping  off  at  full  pace,  when 
a  ball  on  the  hip  bi-ought  him  down.     He  was  then 
taken  to  an  adjacent  house,  when,  fearing  he  was  about 
to  die,  lie  called  for  the  priest.     One  of  the  party— call 
them  '  insurgents '  for  the  moment— went  forthwith  for 
the  clergyman,  who  attended  him  as  usual.     But  here 
the  Eev.  Mr.  McGinn,  after  acting  as  the  servant  of 
God,  thought  fit  to  do  a  trifle  in  the  British  spy  way ; 
and  so  proceeded  forthwith  to  the  police  barrack  of  Ros- 
beg,  and  there  warned  the  police  to  '  stand  to  arms.' 
He  subsequently  met  the  insurgents— I  cannot  as  yet 
call  them  Fenians— and  told  them  to  desist,  not  to  ap- 
proach the  barrack,  for  that  the  police  were  ready  to 
receive  them.     '  Then  you  have  informed  on  us,'  said 
one  of  them.    "  Yes,'  answered  he, '  I  did  so,  and  would 
do  so  again,  and  am  prepared  for  the  consequences.' 
"VVithout  further  parley,  they  left  his  reverence  and 
proceeded  their  way,  whither  it  has  not  been  since  as- 
certained.    But  it  woulc^ appear  that  on  Wednesday 
some  of  them  were  seen,  wearing  green  uniforms,  pass- 
ing the  '  Gap  of  Dunloe,'  and  taking  the  direction  of 
the  mountains.     So  much  for  the  facts,  as  far  as  they 
have  hitherto  transpired. 

"  The  panic,  as  might  be  expected,  was  extreme 
among  the  loyal  West  Britishers  of  the  'Kingdom  of 
Kerry,'^  during  the  excitement.  Mrs.  Herbert  flitted  to 
the  Railway  Hotel,  with  several  others  from  the  neio-li- 


1 

1' 

'ffl 

1 

li 

1   1 

1 

214 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


ft 


boiliood.  Lord  N'aas,  the  Irisli  Chief  Secrettiiy,  wa9 
telegraphed  to  at  his  very  seat  in  tlic  House  of  Cuiii- 
iiioiirt,  and  had  to  come  across  to  see  after  this  part  of 
her  Majesty's  dominions — leavini^  his  Irish  Land  Bill, 
which  he  was  to  move  next  night,  to  its  fate.  '  The 
Irish  Office,'  in  London,  was  up  all  night  on  Wednes- 
day, seeing  what  to  do ;  and  on  the  whole,  whatever 
may  be  the  nature  or  the  result  of  the  commotion,  it 
has  rather  fretted  our  most  benign  and  paternal  Chris- 
tian Masters. 

"  Some  persist  in  denying  it  to  be  a  Fenian  move- 
ment at  all.  I  would  I  could  bring  myself  to  believe 
so  much.  But  I  fear  that  utter  hatred  ofthe  intolera- 
ble yoke,  with  extra  enthusiasm,  not  guided  by  j^ru- 
dence  or  fortified  by  sutHcient  means,  may  have  driven 
some  noble  spirits  to  a  deed  of  rashness,  wdiich,  if  un- 
dertaken in  auspicious  circumstances,  and  with  pros- 
pects of  success,  would  entitle  them  to  rank  with  the 
nobles  heroes  and  apostles  of  Liberty." 

On  Thursday,  25th  July,  18(57,  "Mortimer  Shea, 
alias  Captain  Mori  arty,"  and  Jeremiah  Daniel  Shee- 
han,  were  indicted,  because  "  they  did,  on  the  15tli  of 
January,  18G7,  and  on  divei^  other  occisions,  feloni- 
ously conspire  and  intend  to  depose  her  Majesty  from 
the  royal  style,  title,  and  (pieculy  dignity  of  Sovereign 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  did  feloniously  ex- 
press divers  overt  acts,"  Sia.  The  prisoners  pleaded  not 
guilty,  and  were  "  put  back." 

Captain  Moriarty  was  brought  to  trial,  at  the  Kerry 
Assizes,  lOth  A  ugust.  The  great  object  of  the  Govern- 
ment, on  the  trial,  was  to  connect  the  prisoner  with 


CAPrAIN   MORTIMEfi   M(jRI\IiTY. 


215 


Colonel  O'Connor,  and  prove,  from  some  experience 
in  naval  matters,  that  he  was  to  take  charge  of  the  At- 
lantic cahle.  One  Talbot,  who  liacl  joined  tlie  Fenians 
to  be  a  spy  on  their  movements,  said  he  heard  tliat 
Moriarty  was  the  Fenian  chief  for  Kerry.  This  Talbot 
was  a  head  constable,  and  appeared  in  court  in  uniform^ 
decorated  with  two  medals  and  clasps.  On  another  trea- 
son-felony trial — that  of  John  Goulding^-— the  same 
day,  the  testimony  gWen  by  him  was  of  interest, "  if  only 
true."  He  said  part  of  the  plan  was  to  seize  all  the  arms 
from  the  coast-guards  and  police  stations,  and  from  all 
the  gentry  who  had  tliem,  and  there  was  a  list  of  these 
prepared  for  the  night  of  the  rising.  On  the  lOtli  or 
11th  of  February,  it  was  settled  in  Dublin,  tliat  there 
sliould  be  a  rising  in  Kerry  one  day  after,  to  bring  the 
army  here,  then  break  the  rails  and  leave  them  here. 
I  was  so  much  engaged  hi  the  business,  that  they  would 
not  hold  any  meeting,  night  or  day,  without  me ;  tliey 
were  to  have  made  me  Commissary-General ;  they  took 
me  to  be  the  head  of  the  whole  thinir. 

On  his  cross-examination,  Ta]l)ot  declined  to  state 
whether  he  was  attending  Fenian  meetings  at  that 
time.  lie  declined  for  "ijtate  reasons."  Neither  would 
he  give  the  name  of  the  place  where  their  meetings 
wei'e  held  in  Dubl  n,  (where  the  Kerry  rising  was 
agreed  on,)  as  "matters  were  passing  there  yet." 

The  Solicitor  General — Meetings  connected  with 
this  conspiracy  are  still  held  in  the  same  places? 

]\rr.  Waters— Do  you  swear  that,  Mr.  Talbot  2 

Talbot— I  do. 

•  Sentenced  to  five  years'  penal  servitude. 


I 


21G 


FEXIAN   HEROES   AND  MAETYRg. 


I 


IH   ' 


Judge  Keogli-IIe  niaj  tell  the  locality  without 
names. 

Talbot-Francis  street  and  Ward's  hill ;  they  also 
March  '"^         ^""""^  ^'^'''''^  *^'^  ^^''''''^  ""'"'"^  ""^  *^^  ^^^ 

Mr.  Waters-Until  you  came  here  as  a  witness,  you 
were  never  in  Kerry  ?  "^ 

Witness — No. 

A  Juror-Did  you  take  the  Fenian  oath  ? .  No 
i hen  how  did  yoii  arrive  at  tlie  position  of  Head 

be  such         ''''  "'^  ^'''^'''  ^"*  ^^''^'  *^^^  ^"^  ^^ 

Mas.ey  had  seen  Moriarty  in  December,  18G0,  at 
the   l^eadquarters,    in   New    York,    and   had    heard 
him  say  "he    Moriarty)  escaped  from  Canada  after 
the  Campo  Bello  raid."     Corydon  identified  the  letter 
oiind  on  the  prisoner  as  being  in  the  hand-writing 
01  O  Connor-  had  been  introduced  to  the  prisoner  a^ 
the  headquarters,  New  York,  by  Colonel  Downing.,  "  as 
a  man  hoklmg  a  high  position  ;  frequently  heard  him 
epoJvenot  at  Fenian  meetings,  in  Liverpool,  in  con- 
nection  with  the  Atlantic  cable  ;  he  was  well  known 
in  that  locality,  being  accudtonied  to  naval  matters  • 
he  was  supposed  to  know  how  to  sever  communication 
between  Ireland  and  America."     " 

On  the  trial,  three  witnesses  from  Caliirciveen,  who 
had  deposed  as  to  the  prisoner's  hand-writing,  and  Avho 
i^tused  to  support  their  depositions,  were  ordered  iw 
the  court  to  be  arrested  for  perjury. 


CAPTAW  MOETLMEE  MOEIAETT.  217 

muci,  oft  ,Zi, : "'"'  r'""'"'""  *° "'« ^<'""-^-™  of 

jubLiy  treated,  and  olnimprl  fi^r.^  i         " 

the  case,  he  would  boTnHH     f  ""'  *">,  ''°"'^'^'  "<-'^^  of 

The  leaned  gentoLn'    !ff   r'™'■'^'"'''*■'''='J■""='l■ 
Tlle  next  d»v     T    1       ?.        ''  '™'"'''  ''"wever,  vain. 

lengthened  cW.eanf  aft  "f  *"^"=' "^'^  J-"-^  *°  '^ 
tion,  they  eo3e'd  rtf:  '"'{ '"'"•'*''^'  «°°''»1'^ 


i:M 


M 


mm 
'   'PI 


>lil 


'"'  I 


J  i 

B  i"'     I'm' 


218 


I'BWIA^   HEKOES  AND  MAJBTJTRe. 


i' 


JOSEPH  NOONAK. 

"Out "  with  O'Connor— Arrested  in  London— Marvelous  escape  from  his  cap- 
tors-Re-arrested  at  Atherstane— Brought  to  Dublin— Riot  in  Killaruey— 
Trial— Sentence. 

The  case  of  Joseph  N'oonan,  one  of  the  Kerry  "  in- 
surgents," might  have  passed  over  with  not  more  than 
the  usual  local  attention  bestowed  upon  such  matters, 
if  liis  desperate  attempt  to  escape  fi"om  the  police  in 
England,  by  leaping  from  a  rail-cai  speeding  at  the 
rate  of  over  forty  miles  an  hour,  had  not  drawn  upon 
him  commingled  feelings  of  wonder  and  admiration. 
He  had  "  turned  out "  with  Colonel  O'Connor,  was 
known  to  have  done  so,  and  to  have  been  probably  the 
main  instrument  of  managing  the  escape  of  several 
leading  Fenians  from  the  hunted  district.  He  evaded 
the  authorities,  but  was  finally  traced  to  London,  where 
he  was  arrested  on  Tuesday,  the  30tli  of  April,  1867. 
by  a  Constable  from  Ireland.  This  Constable,  Gun- 
ning, and  a  Sergeant,  undertook  to  escort  the  Fenian 
prisoner  to  Dublin.  The  former  says  in  his  evidence : 
"  Before  leaving  London,  I  went  with  him  to  the  Lon- 
don Bridge  Kailway  station  to  look  after  his  boxes. 
He  told  me  he  was  after  arriving  from  Havre,  and  his 
boxes  were  there.  "We  got  the  boxes  and  brought  liim 
to  the  police-station  that  night.     The  next  day  we 


1 


JOSEPH   NOONAK. 


219 


the 


[ 


took  him  to  the  Euston  station,  where  we  all  tliree 
took  through  tickets  for  Dublin.     There  was  no  room 
in  the  second  class,  and  the  station-master  put  us  into 
a  first.     We  left  at  five  in  the  evening  and  arrived  at 
Kugby  that  night.     About  half  an  hour  after  leav- 
"ig  Kugby,he   took   a  hold   of   the  window  strap, 
dropped  It,  put  his  foot  upon  the  seat,  and  went  out  of 
the  wmdow.     The  train  was  going  at  forty  miles  an 
hour  then      My  companion  and  I  were  talking  at  tha 
tnne.     We  telegraphed  back  when  the  train  stopped 
and  went  to  Tamworth,  and   the  following  day   to 
Atberstane,  where  we  got  a  clue." 

After  Noonan's  escape,  the  Sergeant  and  Constable, 
both  of  whom  were  as  much  chagrined  as  astonished 
at  the  daring  which  had  taken  their  prisoner  from 
their  veiy  grasp,  instituted  an  active  search  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  also  efficiently  assisted  by  the 
railway  officials  and  the  local  police.  The  officers 
gained  no  information  on  Thursday,  but,  on  Friday 
n.ormng,  they  ascertained  that  ]^oonan  had  been  to  a 
pawn-shop  at  Atherstane,  pawned  his  coat,  and  bouo-Jit 
a  cap.  " 

Nothing  further  was  brought  to  light  until  nig],t 
when   he  iodg.ng-houses  in  tlie  town  were  searched  b; 
the  pobee.     Tliey  iound  the  fugitive  prisoner  in  one 
of  these  houses,  in  bed,  about  ten  p.  m.    He  at  first 
demed  that  he  was  the  man ;   the  offleers,  however 
had  tound  a  letter  in  the  bouse  written  by  the  prisone.^ 
to  h,s  ir,ends,  asking  thorn  to  supply  him  with  money 
whieli,  „n  being  made  known  to  him,  he  at  onee  ae- 
know.edged  hnnself  to  be  the  man,  and  answered  any 


i 


i' 


nl ' 


220 


FENIAN   1IK110E8   AND   MAKITKB. 


quostioiii^  freely  that  were  put  to  liirn.  There  is  no 
doiiht  that  but  for  the  M'ant  of  this  niouey  Noonaii 
would  have  made  i»;ood  his  e^^eape. 

From  his  own  Btatement  of  his  esen]>e,  it  a])pear3 
that  he  left  the  train  ahout  three  miles  north  of 
Tamworth  station,  inst(>ad  of  south,  as  the  ollieers 
Buruiised.  lie  says  he  watched  his  op])ortunity, 
dropped  the  carriai^e  win<low  down,  and,  phujin^i^  his 
knee  and  hands  on  the  sill,  with  a  eat-like  si)rin,!j;,  shot 
throun-h  the  window  ;  he  ali«j^hted  on  his  feet,  and  then 
had  a  few  rolls  and  o-ot  np— heyond  the  shakin<^  and  a 
sliirht  scratch  on  the  ridit  side  of  his  forehead,  noth- 
inir  the  worse  for  his  adventure.  As  the  train  at  the 
time  was  traveling  fifty  miles  an  hour,  it  is  a  most 
miracidous  circumstance  how  the  man  escaped  with 
his  life ;  "  and,  incredible  as  the  feat  seems,"  says  one 
of  the  reporters,  wdio  saw  him  on  his  arrival  in  Dub- 
lin, "  any  person,  after  seeing  the  man,  wonld  feel  quite 
ready  to  give  credence  to  his  statement,  which  corres- 
ponds in  every  particular  with  the  statement  of  the 
olHcers  from  whom  he  escaped.  In  appcjirance  he  is 
just  the  man  one  would  expect  to  find  capable  of  ac- 
complibhing  any  snch  rash  feat." 

The  prisoner  arrived  in  Dnblin  on  Snnday,  the  5th 
May,  and  w^as  lt)dged  in  Kilmainham  jail.  It  was  ex- 
pected that  he  wa)uld  be  brought  to  Killarney,  and  the 
people  assend.)led  to  welcome  him,  and  probably  to 
attempt  his  rescue.  He  did  not  appear,  however,  and 
the  populace  took  the  opportunity  of  making  a  demon- 
stration against  the  nuxgistrate  and  police,  an  account 
of  which  is  given  in  the  London  Times  of  13th  May : 


&■*'■ 


iOBim   NOONAN". 


221 


"A  Fonian  riot  occui-rc!  at  Kill„r,icy  on  Wcl.,..,- 

u   tl,c,a,l  vH,ys  at,,m  t.MvitnoHMJ.camvul  ofNo,,n,m 
to  a  lo«o,l  Fo„ia„,  wh,«o  oxtraonlinary  e^capo  Ih  m  a 

tl,o  2,V,n  r"  r''"''""^"'  «■'■»  woro  i„  waiting  at 
tl,e.tat,  n,  n,dcr  tI>o  connnand  of  Mr.  Gallwoy",  J. 
i.  IJio  display  was  continued  until  th„  .  i- 
roaoLcd  tl.oir  l.arraolcB,  aftor  wl.ieh  "  1  c  „„  *  '  ■  '" 
downward  tVo,„  the  barraok  a^Lle  i  ^  I  "a;;^ 
wo,,  hootod  and  yollod  at  ],im,  and  J,o  wa^s  sul  ice  ted 
to  almos  as  mucli  ill-treatment  as  the  police.  W 
«;g  .nto  lus  hou.,0,  they  throw  stones  at  him,  and  son  o 
ot  his  wmdows  wore  broken." 

Mr.  Noonan  ^«,s  enhserjncmly  confined  in  Naas  jail, 
w  th  Captain  Mor.arty  and  Thomas  Garde*  and 
when  >t  was  necessary  to  remove  him  to  Tral  .0      e 

tZ'  "/"T  "'  '"  """"^^  P^-"-''-'  acco  i',i  d 
thonco  by  a  heavy  escort  of  police.      lU  was  ind  "ted 

for  treaso^felony  and  brought  to  trial  at  the  Ko    y 

Assizes  16th  Angnst.      lie  was   identiiicd  as  one  o^f 

tluTr?' "''" '"°*™'''S  °f  «- 15tl,  February 
that  had  rofresliments  at  the  hotel  at  Glonheigh  and 
a   having  got  a  boat  at  Glenagh  in  wliich  lie  wUh'tha 

c  dents  ot  the  rismg  were  given  in  evidence,  which 
wore  not  alluded  to  on  the  others. 

Jnrur;;s:M«  "t\s:r? ''''°'»°  "»'^'''°  »»«""-■ 

thejiiry.  '  ""  .'''"^'"' "»' snilly.  and  was  acquitted  by 


ooo 


PKNIAN    IIKUOKS   AND   MARTYRS. 


-:*='lt 


M-jg 


C(>iistjil)lo  Win.  l)n<>:ii;iiii,  who  was  sliot  wliilc  ciirry- 
iiiii;  (Icsputclios  tVoiii  Jvilor^Iiii  to  (yiiliircivoon,  and  fell 
from  hiri  horsi^  Htatod,  after  l.yin<^  (luict  for  sonic  tiiiio 
tliat  he  got  hold  of  liis  Bword  and  walked  to  a  cottage, 
into  which,  after  some  parley,  lie  obtained  entrance : 

"I  said  I  was  woniulod — that  I  wasu't  able  to  do  anything, 
TlM'y  tlicn  calhid  for  Colouc;!  OX'oiiiior  to  conuj  in — tliat  tlicy  had 
this  man  insid(!.  I  Haw  a  revolver  with  one  of  tiicm.  Tliat  man 
waid,  'I  am  the  man  that  fired  at  him.'  lie  came  up  quite  cIoho 
to  me  and  prea(!nted  a  pistol  at  me.  I  asked  for  a  drink  of  water, 
and  they  made  an  old  woman  l)elongin<5  to  the  house  go  for  it.  I 
got  aonve  brandy,  too,  from  Colonel  O'Connor,  who  had  Mr.  Anke- 
tell's  (S.  L,  Cahircivcen)  Bword  on  him.  Colonel  O'Connor  took 
the  despatch  I  had  with  me  out  of  my  pocket,  and  read  it,  and  a 
purse  I  had  with  -is.  in  silver  in  it.  Colonel  O'Connor  examined 
my  wound,  and  tokl  me  to  cheer  up,  and  said  he  got  worae  himself 
hi  the  American  service.  He  promised  to  send  me  the  priest  and 
doctor  as  soon  as  he  met  them." 

Mr.  Shea,  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  at  Glenbeigh, 
was  acquainted  with  Noonan,  and  said  that  O'Connor 
gave  him  a  slip  of  paper  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
bread  taken  for  his  men.  The  daughter  deposed  that 
she  "  gave  refreshments  to  twenty  or  thirty  armed  in- 
surgents on  the  15th  of  February,  and  got  a  bond  of 
the  Irish  Republic  from  Colonel  O'Connor  as  payment. 
Got  the  money  afterward." 

jSToonan  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  seven  years' 
penal  servitude. 


--M^™^  -^^J'L| 


OAPfAlN    MICHAEL   o'rorKE. 


223 


CArTATN  MICHAEL  O'TIOBKE. 

"^'.WM^-Vt  "•'r^"'"~"''"*"~*''''""y*='"'^'™^  t"  New  York-Memories 
«>   the  I^.y  Make  him  a  Uebel-.IoinH  the  Pha-nix  UriKa.lc    EnterH  the  UnT  ed 

auu  r  Kil  C.1- 1  aken  I'riHo.ier-M UHtenul Out-GocB  to  Ireland-IIlH  I),itle« 
1"  England  and  Ireland-Narrow  EHcu„e  fro.n  Corydon-Se^Uo  No w  Yoik! 

In  tlie  evidence  given  by  tlie  arch-informer,  on  tlie 
trials  of  Colonel  Thomas  F.  lionrke,  Captain  M'Caff- 
crty,  and  otliei-s,  tlie  name  of  Captain  O'Horke,  ''  alias 
Beeclier,"  is  constantly  alluded  to.     He  18  spoken  of 
m  connection  with  the  most  prominent  men  and  movc3- 
ments;    as  having  been  present  at  important  consulta- 
tions, and  as  being  the  pay-master  of  the  Fenian  or- 
ganization in  Enghmd,  through  wliose  hands  the  funds 
went  to  officers  assigned  to  certain  duties.     Sufficient 
alhision  is  made  to  him  to  suggest  a  man  of  energy 
and  rehahility,  in  whom  an  abiding  trust  was  placed  by 
his  superiors  and  comrades.     Events  have  shown  that 
Captain  O'Eorke  was  wortliy  of  the  confidence  placed 
m  Inm.     A  trusty  soldier  of  his  adopted  country,  he 
was  a  no  less  efficient  agent  of  the  cause  of  his  native 
land. 

Michael  O'Rorke  was  born  in  August,  1841,  in  Ros- 
common, Ireland,  and  is,  consequently,  now  'twenty- 
six  years  old.     His  family-father,  mother,  three  sis- 


001 


FENIAN    rrKUOKS   AND    MAUTYK8. 


i 


tci's  and  a  younger  bn>tlior — cmi^nittjil  to  flic   TTrn'- 
ted  Stiitos  in    1854,  ai'd  arrivt'd  in  Now  York  in  tlio 
full  of  that  yeiir.     Tlioiigli  leiivin<^  lionio  at  tliis  early 
age,  young  OMlorl^o  was  not  insensibki  to  the  causea 
which  had  driven  tlioiisands,  as  well  ati  his  own  family, 
from  the  loved  scenes  of  their  nativity.     JIo  liad  seen 
and  remembered  from  childhood  the  "crow-bar  bri- 
gade," and  other  barbarous  appliances  of  oppression. 
Witliin  liis  own  memory,  the  once  most  hapj)y  and 
comfortable  homes  of  liis  ncighborhooii  were  razed  to 
the  ground,  and  ho  had  S(Xmi  grass  growing  on  the 
hearths  around  wliich  liis  young  heart  nad  been  made 
glad  with  merry  laughter.      Tha   hearth  sides  were 
cold,  the  voices  gone — 'Some  hushed  in  pauper  graves. 
Such  scenes  made  boys  men  in  si)irit;  and  the  boy 
O'Rorke  wondered  why  such  things  were,  and  if  there 
was  no  remedy  for  such  gigantic  evils.     Ho  naturally 
thought  there  must  be  some  corrective,  thougli  he  could 
not  then  see  what  it  was;  but  the  thought  had  sutH- 
cicnt  inspiration  in  it  to  make  him  an  ingrained  ene- 
my— even  unto  death — of  the  causes  of  such  fraud  and 
oppression. 

With  these  feelings  uppermost,  he  became  a  soldier 
of  Ireland.  In  the  Spring  of  1859,  he  joined  the  Wolfe 
Tone  Guards,  Company  A,  First  Ecgiment,  Pha^nix 
Brigade,  commanded  by  the  lamented  Cya])tain  Francis 
Wel])ley,  a  brave  and  devoted  son  of  Ireland,  now,  alns, 
numbered  among  the  thousands  of  true  and  bravo 
hearts  lost  to  her  while  gallantly  fighting  for  the  integ- 
rity of  this  Republic.  The  Phrenix  Brigade  was  at 
that  time  being  organized,  and  had  for  its  chief  officers, 


I 


i 


CADTALV   MrOIIAEL  o'liORKE. 


225 


T^olionj,   Corcoran,   ami   Colonel  INfuttliONV    Muroliv 
U  ith  these  purn„tic  spinfs,  OUorko  wuh  not  then  ue- 
qtmn.ted.     It  wus  enon-h  t:,r  hi.n,  however,  to  Knirn 
that  the  bri-iide  ^va8  to  be  a  body  of  Jrishni.'n,  ready 
to  do  duty  in  Irehmd.     The  dreann  of  iii.   boyh„od 
lushed  his  imagination,  and  with  almost  wihl  delhdit 
lie  hastened  to  join,  vvitii  heart  and  han<l,  those  zeahms 
men,  whom  be  learned  to  love  for  their  unlirinL'  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  the  oppressed. 

With  unremitting  attention,  as  private,  corporal  and 
ftrst  lieutenant,  bo  served  four  years  in  the  Wolfe 
Tone  Guards.     In  18(52  the  oi-anization  ollerred  its 
eerviees  to  tbe  ( Jovernment,  as  a  regiment,  and  with  it 
O'Rorke  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States.    J  Jo 
was  commissioned  as  first  lieutenant  in  Juno,  18(52 
and   captain   in   December   following.      Of  Captain 
O'Rorke,  as  a  soldier,  nothing  more  "o  bis  credit  can 
be  said  than  that  oiten  (cheerfully  expressed  by  those 
with  whom  be  served,  irom  tbe  General  to  tbe  Colonel 
and  ollicers  of  bis  reginujut— that  be  was  an  intellio-ent 
brave  and  efficient  ollicer.     Many  illustrative  instaiices 
migbt  be  adduced,  but  Captain  O'liorke's  career  sbows 
■tbat  be  sougbt  more   to  do  bis  duty  than  to  court 
eulogy  or  notoriety.     His  regiment— now  tbe  l(54tb 
^-  Y.  v.— was  ordered  to  tbe  Spinola  JJrigade,  and  re- 
nianied  witli  it  until  General  Corcoran  arrived  from 
bis  Soutbern  prisons,  in  New  York,  (August,    18(52  ) 
and  couimenced  organizing  tbe  Irisb  Legion' for  tbe 
war.     l)y  tbe  unanimous  rerpiest  of  tbe'officers  tbe 
l(54tb  was  transferred  to  tbe  Corcoran  Legion,  of  wbich 


fcit>l 


HI 


226 


FENIAN  HEE0E8  iLtTD  MAETYieS. 


oftTlllC^'  "'  -J-HngadiuncMo  the  close 
It  19  outside  of  the  design  of  this  work  to  dwell  on 

Hon   Welpley,  Butler,  Abraham,  Egau,  O^clnoll 
O  Sulhvau    Marouy,  Hickey,  M-Calfrey    Flood  ad' 
0  Ws  hundreds,  rank  and  tile,  who  yearned  f';  the 
day  they  would  strike  for  Irish,  as  they  struck  for 
Amencan,  freedom.     Captain   O'Eorke  Lved  wM 
h,s  reg.ment  without  inte™ission ;  was  with  it  ^^Z 
brightest  and  darkest  days,  shared  in  its  every  march 
bivouac  and  battle.     There  is  one  field,  howe^r  on 
winch  he  was  an  actor,  to  which  we  are  drawTbv  Z 

0  Eorke  received  a  wound,  more  deep  and  lastinsr 
more  exci^ciating  than  any  given  by  bfade,  or  b,  1,^; 

01  ball.  Death  was  preferable  to  his  agony  on  that 
day  of  Spottsylvania,  18tli  May,  1864,  ^hen.Tn  he 
heat  of  action  he  caught  the  almost  lifekss  body  of    i! 

enemy.  To  he  near  his  son  in  danger_to  see  him- 
not  to  have  to  wait  to  hear  from  him-this  lovin„ 
father  entered  the  service.  The  son  had  but  time  to 
press  the  dying  father  to  his  heart,  rest  his  held  ™  n  ^ 
the  side  of  a  ditch,  and  take  his  position  with  the  ad 

guish  ol  O  Korke,  who  deeply  and  wholely  reciproca- 


1 


CAPTAIN  MICHAEL  o'eoEKE.  22T 

ea,   „m.     The  duty  which  tore  him  from  the  side  of 
d  ath- 'ta  T\''r  f  ""^'"^  °'  ''f«-     He  courted 
Jiis  agonized  desire  was  not  granted,  nor  did  he  even 
receive  a  wound  during  his  entire  serVice. 

At  Eeams's  Station,  25t)i  August,  1864   he  was 
aken  prisoner,  after  seeing  his  fl?st  militar;  instiu^  ' 

h  11   wif  r   7*^^ '^'  '""'^"y  »°™  assun^der  bya 

T,  u  ;•  ^-  ^•'  "^  P"'''™  "<'  tlie  same  shell 

a  so  ],.ih„g  another  brave  officer,  Lieutenant  Sweeny 
o:  the  same  regiment.  "wctuy, 

„f;*'";;' "'"^f f  i°g  "ntold  hardships  in  the  prison-pens 
of  the  "Confederacy,"  for  six  months,  CaptaL  O'Rorke 
was  exchanged  in  February,  1865,  ;hen  he  returned 

W^'T*'™'  ™-^'-<i-tl^  it  to  the  close  of 
the  wai.  Tlie  mustering  out  day  at  last  arrived  and 
p..t  01   eight  hundred  who  answered  at  the  muster 

ng  in,  more  thrn  seven  hundred  left  their  bones  to 
Ueach  on  many  a  well-contested   aad   bloody  I  Id 
or  to  rot  in  some  confederate  prison  yard.    The  other 
-Stents  of  the  legion-the  69th,  155th  and  S 
IN .  i; .  V  .—sustained  about  similar  losses 

About  the  iirst  of  July,  1866,  Captaik  O'Eorlce  re- 
turned    o  Ins  home,  in  New  York,  ^hen  the  Gotei^ 

nd  il  1    "^"'I'-'g'''  "'"'«'■  tlie  circumstances  rola- 

ted  a  love,  he  might  have  been  justified  in  remaiii^^ 
with  his  family.  Ins  sense  of  the  duty  imposed  on  him' 
was  paramount.    Declaring  himself  ready,  he  re    ived 


r  ^  ^ 


¥:   I 


'i  ' 


I 


mi 


228 


FENIAN  EEE0E8   ANt)  MAETTrv9« 


his   inritnictions,   left    Kew  Yorl^    on    tlic    l4tli  of 
July,  and  arrived  in  Dublin  on  tlie  27tli. 

About  three  months  were  spent  visiting  the  various 
parts  of  the  country,  principally  the  west  of  Ireland. 
After  the  seizure  of  the  Irish  People,  and  in  view  of 
the  numerous  arrests  of  active  Fenians  then  made, 
Captain  O'Rorke  was  called  on  to  perform  several 
offices  for  the  organization.  Some  of  these  duties  led 
him,  almost  daily,  for  months,  to  visit  houses  most  no- 
ted, and  whose  residents  were  already  watched  by  tho 
authorities.  Still,  he  succeeded  in  eluding  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  detectives.  Not  only  then,  but  throughout 
the  whole  period  of  his  labors,  he  was  so  successful  in 
his  management,  that  he  believes  he  is  personally  ua- 
known  to  the  spies  and  police  up  to  this  day. 

When  the  Habeas  Corpus  Act  was  suspended,  arrests 
made  by  the  hundred,  and  Dublin  ablaze,  Captain 
O'Korke  had  not  only  to  see,  almost  daily,  every  offi- 
cer not  arrested,  but  to  visit  the  lodgings  of  those  who 
•were,  to  look  after  their  effi3ct8,  and  settle  any  claims 
against  them  which  might  have  been  left  unpaid. 
When  Mr.  Stephens  was  leaving  Dublin  for  the  Uni- 
ted States,  in  March,  1866,  he  ordered  (Captain  O'Rorko 
to  send  all  the  officers  not  arrested,  then  in  Ireland,  to 
England.  This  was  done,  and  fimds  being  placed  in 
his  hands  for  their  support,  he  received  the  appelhitioji 
of  paymaster,  or,  as  tlie  informer  and  detectives  havo 
it,  "Fenian  Paymaster." 

It  would  not  be  prudent  to  enter  into  details  of  tho 
Captain's  sojourn  in  England.  Suffice  it  to  say,  he 
remained  at  his  post,  providing  for  his  charge,  about 


OATTAm  MIOHAEL  o'eoEKE. 


229 


of 


fifty  officers,  and  sometimes  more.     Witli  others,  lie 
lioped,  and  lived  with  the  hope,  that  an  open  move- 
ment wouhi  take  pLace  in  Ireland,  in  1866 ;  and  left 
nothing  in  his  power  undone  to  further  this  design. 
The   sequel   of  Mr.  Stephens's  unfortunate  promise, 
which  bred  such  distraction  in  the  home  organization, 
is  before  the  world.    Oaptain  O'Rorke  was  now  called 
upon  to  perform  other,  and  even  more  important  du- 
ties, of  which  little  can  be  said,  save,  indeed,  what  has 
been  already  indicated  by  the  evidence.     Ilis  new  du- 
ties led  him  to  visit,  at  various  times,  almost  the  whole 
English  organization,  and  Dublin  at  least  once  a  month. 
During  the  very  fever  of  excitement  and  vigilance  of 
both  the  Irish  and  English  authorities,  he  successfully 
performed  all  this,  and  kept  himself  and  his  where- 
abouts unknown  to  them,  until  the  informer,  Cory  don 
gave  the  latter,  and  made  a  bold  attempt  on  the  former. 
But  on  this,  as  on  other  occasions,  he  escaped  the  snares 
of  that  wily  wretch.    Acting  on  the  informer's  instruc- 
tions, a  posse  of  detectives  and  police,  led  by  Major 
Greg,  chief  of  the  force,  proceeded  to  O'Rorke's  lodo-. 
ings,  in  Liverpool,  to  arrest  him.     They  took  eveiy 
precaution,   approached  the  house  from  three  sides 
guarded  all  the  entrances,  and  captured  everythino-' 
from  the  cellar  to  the  garret.     The  only  trace  they 
found  of  the  "  paymaster,"  was  his  trunk,  which  they 
broke  open,  he  being  safe  in  Dublin,  whither  business 
had  called  him  the  day  before. 

At  the  time— September,  1866— he  had  not  the  re- 
motest idea  who  gave  the  information  ;  but  the  search 
convinced  him  that  all  could  not  be  right.     When 


""SFyjmr 


m    ...  -   -t 
If   I 

'  Hi 


M:\ 


1 1 


230 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MAETYBS. 


therefore,  he  returned  in  a  few  days  to  Livcq')ool,  he 
removed  his  residence  to  a  town  a  few  miles  distant, 
where,  fortunately,  his  exact  whereabouts  were  never 
known  to  the  execrable  Corydon.  To  this  circum- 
stance, is  no  doubt  attributable  the  fact  that  Captain 
O'Rorke  was  enabled  to  go  on  performing  all  his  duties 
as  before,  and  meeting  Corydon,  with  the  officers,  almost 
weekly  in  Liverpool.  O'Korke's  suspicions,  Mnthout 
being  centered  on  any  special  person,  were  awakened, 
and  he  took  the  precaution  of  making  his  visits  to  Liv- 
erpool rather  irregular,  without  previous  announce- 
ment, and  of  such  short  duration  in  any  one  place,  as 
to  defeat  any  covert  enemy.  And  he  had,  indeed,  a 
treacherous  foe,  one  unknown  until  he  saw  him  on  the 
informer's  stand.  At  the  Fenian  trials,  this  monster 
acknowledged  that  he  was  receiving  pay  from  the  Fe- 
nians, through,  as  he  said,  "  their  paymaster  in  Eng- 
land, Captain  O'Rorke,  alias  Beecher,"  and  that,  at  the 
game  time,  he  was  using  his  diabolical  efforts  to  sell  the 
life  of  that  gentleman,  his  former  companions,  and  his 
country. 

Notwithstanding  that  Captain  O'Rorke  traveled  to 
all  parts  of  England,  meeting  hundreds  of  persons 
nightly,  known  to  all,  each  having  the  conviction  that 
his  betrayal  would  insure  a  large  reward,  yet  it  is  a 
healthy  evidence  of  uprightness  of  purpose,  to  know 
that  he  experienced  no  peril,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was 
Bhielded  with  devotion.  Within  four  months,  it  has 
been  stated  that  he  was  as  many  times  arrested ; 
but  it  is  gratifying  to  remark  he  was  safe  in  the  hands 
of  his  friends,  in  ]S^ew  Yci'k,  having  been  sent  there  on 
the  business  of  the  organization,  in  June,  1865. 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANY. 


231 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEAKY. 

Birth-Early  WritingB  for  the  Press-Publishes  a  Volume  of  Poems  at  Six- 
teen-O  Connell'9  Reporter-Establishes  the  /ri.s-A  yational  Ma^^azine~In 
the  Clnbs-On  the  Irish  Tribune-Brenixn  and  Meany  Test  the  Ri^M  of  th« 
Police  to  sen  the  National  Jonrnals-Arrestod  nnd  Jr  the  Sus^Sn  of  i'! 
^Z^rT^'  lS«-Rek-ased-Journalism-Emigrate8  to  the  United  States- 
Editor  of  the  Toledo  romm^rcm;,  Ohio-Centre-At  the  Third  Con-ress-A 
^nator-Address  to  the  Parent  Trunk  of  Penianism-Resolutions  al  Jones' 
Wood-Goes  to  England-Arrested-Tried  for  Treason-Felony-Fire  Speech 
in  the  Dock-Exposes  Overtures  made  to  him  to  Betray  the  Feuians-Sen. 
tenced. 

The  case  of  Stephen  Joseph  Meany  has  attracted  pe- 
culiar attention,  and  thrown  L'ght  upon  a  public  car- 
reer of  devotion  to  Ireland,  which  it  is  gratifjino-  to 
record.     On  the  National  side  of  Irish  politics  from 
boyhood,  Meany  was  up  to  every  progressive  move- 
ment which,  in  our  day,  lifted  politics  into  the  domain 
of  patriotism.     He  does  not  now  suffer  for  the  first 
time  for  entering  wisely  and  well  into  the  agitations 
exposing  the  misgovernment  of  his  country,  or  advo- 
cating measures  to  achieve  her  independence.    In  1848, 
he  shared  the  hopes  and  penalties  of  that  brilliant  band 
of  poets,  authors  and  journalists,  whose  writings,  not 
less  than   their   aspirations,  chivalry  and   sufferings, 
were  sufficient  to  make  that  year  an  ever-memorable 
epoch  in  the  annals  of  Irish  intellect  and  progress. 

Stephen  Joseph  Meany  was  born  at  JSTew  Hall,  near 
Ennis,  County  Clare,  Ireland,  in  December,  1825.  Af* 


■Ml 


232 


TKNIAN   nER0T:8   AKD  MAllTYRS. 


\k 


: 


ter  preparatory  studies,  he  adopted  the  profession  of 
reporter  and  joiirnah'st,  and  became  distinguished  as  a 
most  capable  short-hand  writer  when  little  more  than 
fifteen  years  old.  A  vivacious  and  romantic  intellect 
naturally  found  expression  in  poesy  ;  and  the  kind  re- 
ception given  to  some  contributions  to  the  Clare  Jour- 
nal and  a  Dublin  weekly,  bearing  the  signatures  of 
*'Abelard,"  "Werner,"  &c.,  induced  the  author  to 
print  a  volume,  which  he  did  in  1841,  with  the  title 
*'  Shreds  of  Fancy."  This  book,  which  was  dedicated 
to  Sir  Michael  O'Loghlen,  Bart,  Master  of  the  Eolls, 
is  in  some  respects  remarkable,  as  evincing,  not 
only  a  facility,  but  a  felicity,  in  diction  and  versifica- 
tion, of  more  than  usual  maturity  in  one  so  young. 
The  tender  affections,  of  course,  were  the  main  inspira- 
tion of  the  youthful  bard  ;  but  love  of  country  found 
expression  happily  proplietic  of  the  author's  patriotic 
future.  About  the  same  time,  young  Meany  an- 
nounced »'  The  Terry  Alt ;  a  Tale  of  1831,"  in  three 
volumes,  wliich  necessarily  embraced  illustrations  of 
the  state  of  the  country. 

Durino-  1843-4:,  the  era  of  the  monster  meetings, 
when  O'Connell  convened  the  people  on  Tara  Hill, 
at  Mullaghmast  and  Clontarf -beacons  and  battle- 
grounds of  Irish  glory  and  retribution — and  inspired 
them  with  feelings  never  to  be  gratified  by  him, 
Meany  was  entrusted  with  the  position  of  chief  of  the 
Freeman's  Journal  staff.  His  tact  and  lacility  in  re- 
producing the  "  Liberator,"  caused  him  to  be  distin- 
guished as  "  O'Connell's  Eeporter."  The  enthusiasm 
of  his  nature,  not  less  than  his  literary  leanings,  as  a 


^11 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANT.  233 

t].an8ix  montU  """"""e  probably  mora 

In  1848,  Mr.  Meany  becamp  «n  »„f 
i"  the  Confederate  Clubs  IT  T  P-'^P^g^^'fet 

prominently  onthe  mth'„fi  ^"""^  "^"te'-ed- ^tiH  more 

powerful  weals  tSdwittrLcf"  ""j'^'^^''^ 
the  EiiroDean  rmL.    •  .  excitement  bred  of 

•      eaders-al»ost  against  thei    w  1  l-i^  he  T'-,  "" 
.on  of  revolutionary  means  and  n^.a",  'e    '  Ih     "■" 
ted  on  his  trial,  Mitche]  provoked  the  v'  "  '''" 

courts  ofjUBtice-as  places  of  tt V  7  "■"•''  """'"^ 
forced  the  Government  ™  kv^  ""^  "'"  ^^"<^d-and 
pack  a  jury  to  c^hirS  tl  °'"°™":'^  *" 
permitted  to  leave  the  island  InT  "°""''"''  "'"^ 
spective  lette.  published '::;t  th:  "uVt^f  °f  T' 
Conquest  of  Ireland,  (Perhan,  V  M-7[  ,  ^'^•' ^.ast 
of  the  sense  of  duty  ~ln^  t,  t  ^'™'  ™  '''''* 

cause.     He  says  •  *    ^"""""'S  tl^ose  who  took  up  his 

do;;Med\f:::n;"r:r:  ^Tr  r-'r^-  --  - 

if  they  were  restLnSn  aS  ^^'l^'  '^^^'  '''-^t- 
.ood  end,  with  some  ^^^^Z^^^:^:^ 

•  "  I-ast  Conquest,"  Letter  XXXH,  p.  281. 


234 


FENIAN    HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


^'S     ' 


i 


!!! 


and  there  were  many  thonsands  of  men  then  in  Ireland, 
who  longed  and  burned  for  thiit  end  and  that  })urposc  ; 
to  earn  an  honorable  death.  How  the  British  system 
disappointed  them  of  even  an  honorable  death,  remains 
Btill  to  be  told.  A  man  can  die  in  Ireland  of  hunger, 
or  of  famine-typlms,  or  of  a  broken  heart,  or  of  deliri' 
v,'ni  tremens  ;  but  to  die  for  your  country — the  death 
duloe  et  decorum — to  die  on  a  fair  field,  fighting  lor 
freedom  and  honor,  to  die  the  death  even  of  a  defeated 
goldier,  as  Ilofer  died  ;  or  so  much  as  to  mount  tho 
gallows  like  Robert  Emmet,  to  pay  the  penalty  of  a 
glorious  treason — even  this  was  an  eutlmnan'm  which 
British  policy  could  no  longer  afford  to  an  Irish  na- 
tionalist. 

"  Yet,  with   all  odds   against  them,  with  the  Irish 
gentry  thoroughly  corrupted  or  frightened  out  of  their 
senses,  and  with  the  "  government "  enemy   obviously 
bent  on  treating  our  national   aspiration  as  an  igno- 
minious crime,  worthy  to  be  ranked  only  with  the  of- 
fences of  burglars  or  pickpockets — still,  there  were 
men  resolved  to  dare  the  worst  and  uttermost  for  but 
onp.  chance  of  rousing  that  down-trodden  people  to  one 
manful  effort  of  resistance  against  so  base  and  cruel  a 
tyranny.     The  Irish  Confederation   re-constituted  its 
council,  and  set  itself  more  diligently  than  ever  to  tho 
task  of  inducing  the  people  to  procure  arms,  with  a 
view  to  a  final  struggle  in  the  harvest.     As  it  was 
clear  that  there  was  nothing  the  enemy  dreaded  so 
much  as  a  bold  and  honest  newspaper,  which  would 
expose  their  plots  of  slaughter,  and  turn  their  liberal 
professions  inside  out,  it  was,  before  all  things,  neccs- 


,   I 


IrelaiicI, 
>ui'poso ; 
I  system 
remains 
liini^cr, 
)f  deliri- 
he  death 
iting  lor 
defeated 
onnt  tho 
iltj  of  a 
la  which 
Irish  na- 

the  Irish 
t  of  their 
)l)vioiisly 
an  igno- 
th  the  of- 
ere  were 
rt  for  but 
pie  to  one 
id  cruel  a 
itnted  its 
/er  to  the 
IS,  with  a 
\.8  it  was 
readed  so 
cli  w^ould 
sir  liberal 
igs,  neccs- 


BTEPHEN  JOSEPH  S'KANY.  235 

•SS*!:'"^'^''"!'^' »"""'««'«  I"- of  the 

"  It  was  a  breach  as  deadly  and  imminent  aa  ever 
yawned  m  a  beleaguered  wall;  but  men   were  iCd 

t'hl'T  cV-Tr  V-  ^'*'"  *-  weeks  after"  my 
tual,  tU  Irish  Tnhm^e  was  issued,  edited  by  O'Doher- 
tr^^and  Wdbams,  with  AntiseU  and  Savag/a.  coZ 

Meany  became  connected  with  the  TnlyuM  as  suh 
cd.tor  and  contxibutor,  and  at  onee  attractedTe  watch 
lul  attention  of  the  authorities.     IKs  writin.^  It    bt 
cns,s  were  peculiarly  forcible  in  style,  and  more  tl^n 
usually  po„.ted  in  suggestivencss/  Take  tre  fol  „t! 

once  free"  wlw'",;        ?  f  ,"°'  "■""'™  "'"="™«  «  «™ 

pnrtor.,  wrolc  Ihc  paper,    .    .    ,    7  °™„  ^X''™  ■'•  """"J.  with  tho  pro- 
tl.8"l',,lrlot"  Id  April  which  th,  „„l"i,.», ■".""'  ""''   "">"""  ^4  l»«uo,l 


M  ! 


2.^6 


PENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


it 


Cokf'fl,  and  Blaokstones,  and  other  jurists,  speak  as  if  our  right  to 
froodoni  depended  on  its  possession  by  our  iineeslors.  In  the  com- 
mon cases  of  morality  we  would  blu-ili  at  such  an  absurdity.  No 
man  would  justify  murder  for  its  auticiuity,  or  stigmatize  benevo- 
lence for  being  novel.  The  genealogist  who  would  e.oblazon  the 
one  as  coeval  with  Cain,  or  denouneo  the  other  as  Ui>start  with 
Howard,  would  be  disclaimed  even  by  the  most  frantic  po'lisan  of 
aristocracy.  This  Gothic  transter  of  genealogy  to  tnith  and  jus- 
tice is  peculiar  to  politics.  The  existence  of  robbery  in  oi.e  age 
makes  its  vindication  in  the  ni^xt ;  and  the  champions  of  freedom 
have  abandoned  the  stronghold  of  right  for  pn.'cedent,  which  is 
ever  feeble,  fluctuating,  partial  and  equivocal.     I  repeat,  it  is  not 

BEOAUSE  WE  HAVE  BEEN  FUKE,  BUT  BECAUSE  WE  HAVE  A  RIGHT  TO 
BE  FltKE,  THAT  WE  OUGHT  TO  DKMAND  FUKEOOM.  JustiCC  and  Lib- 
erty have  neither  birth  nor  race — youlh  nor  age.  Lot  us  hear  no 
more  then  of  this  ignoble  and  ignominious  pedigree  of  freedom—* 
let  us  hear  no  more  of  lier  Saxon,  Danisli,  Norman,  or  Celtic  an- 
cestors— let  the  immo'tal  daughter  of  Reason,  of  Justice,  and  o* 
God  be  no  longer  confounded  with  the  spurious  abortions  tliat 
have  usurped  her  name. 

"Primary  politioal  truths  are  few  and  simple;  it  is  easy  to 
make  them  understood.  A  government  may  be  made  to  be  re- 
spected, not  because  it  is  ancient,  not  because  it  has  been  estab- 
lished by  barons  or  applauded  by  priests,  but  because  it  is  useful. 
Men  may  easily  be  induced  to  maintain  rights  which  it  is  their  in- 
terest to  maintain,  or  duties  which  it  is  their  interest  to  perform. 
This  is  the  only  principle  of  authority  that  does  not  violate  justice 
and  insult  humanity ;  it  is  also  the  only  one  which  can  possess 
stabil  ty. 

"Is  this  principle  an  ingredient  of  English  rule  in  Ireland?"  • 

The  week  following  we  find  Meany  reviewing,  in  a 
trenchant  manner,  the  political  incidents  of  the  day. 
He  deals  plainly  and  boldly  witli  them.     "  "We  will 

*  "  Tracts  for  the  Tribune."— //-isA  Tribune,  July  1, 1848. 


flTEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANT* 


237 


not,  he  Rays,  "indulge  in  homilies  of  moral  mj-s- 
ticisin,  better  adapted  to  the  airiusement  of  a  peoido 
tlum  to  their  iiistrnctiun.  Such  things  are  not  fitted 
.  for  the  time.  Men  do  not  leave  their  hearths  and 
homes  and  expose  thems^.ves,  their  fortunes  and  their 
children  to  imminent  p'x'ii,  without  deep  and  dreadful 
cause.  Anything  like  a  general  or  national  move- 
ment must  bo  the  result  of  long  misgovernment." 
He  implores  the  people  to  train,  to  drill,  and  to  arm  f 
and  concludes  his  timely  exhortation  with  these  words, 
pointing  to  something  niore  than 

**Tho  Tribune's  tongue  and  poet's  pen  t" 
"With  organization,  confidence,  strength  and  arms 
—with  a  training  and  drilling,  not  only  of  the  animal, 
tut  of  the  intellectual  man,  with  our  harvest  already 
ripening  in  a  July  sun,  with  everything  in  our  moral 
ftnd  physical  condition  to  insure  success— why,  with 
these  things  let  there  be  but  one  simultaneous  excla- 
mation—*  Now  T  one  shout  of  triumph,  and  then- 
God  be  merciful  to  the  rampant  ruffianism  of  Eun-lish 
kwa  and  English  Government  1"  ^ 

A  circum^^tance  occurred  about  this  period  which  is 
illustrative  of  Meany's  maniy  sense  of  justice,  as  well 
as  vf  the  violent  state  of  lawlessness  which  the  Govern- 
ment was  forced  to  adopt  in  its  conflict  with  the  pa- 
triots. Mitchel  was  right  when  he  said  there  was 
nothing  the  Government  dreaded  so  much  as  a  bold 
and  honest  journal.  The  Ins/i  Tnhme  was  quicklv 
followed  by  the  appearance  of  the  /risk  Felon,  so  tha^t 
there  were  two  fearless  national  journals  in  the  capi- 
tal, besides  the  ^fation^  which  had  received  a  healthy 


238 


FENIAN   IIER0K8   AND  MARTYR9. 


impetus  by  the  necessity  exliibited  in  the  popularity- 
of  its  youn<i;cr  rivals.  Every  possible  obstruction  wad 
placed  in  tlie  way  of  the  circulation  of  tlie  Irihune 
and  Felon.  The  news  venders  were  seized  by  the  jx)- 
lice  and  detectives  not  in  uniform,  and  the  papers  for- 
cibly taken  from  them. 

On  Monday,  the  10th  July,  two  days  after  the  ar- 
rest of  the  editors  of  these  journals,  a  large  force  of 
[)()lice  proceeded  to  Trinity  street,  where  the  ofRcea 
were  located,  and  made  a  foray  on  the  news  venders. 
The  same  system  having  been  pursued  on  the  Satur- 
day previous — and  to  such  an  extent  that  private  indi- 
viduals of  the  highest  respectability,  as  well  as 
the  poor  venders,  were  forcibly  deprived  of  the 
papers  they  had  bought — greatly  irritated  the  gen- 
tlemen connected  with  the  papers,  and  suggested 
to  some  of  them  the  necessity  of  testing  the  power 
of  the  police.  The  action  of  the  police  attract- 
ed a  large  crowd.  Meany,  on  the  part  of  the 
Tribune^  and  Jose]:>h  Brenan,  on  the  part  of  tlie 
Felon^  procured  copies  of  the  respective  papers,  and, 
exhorting  the  venders  to  resist  the  confiscation  of  their 
goods,  boldly  went  into  the  street  and  oftbred  the  pa- 
pers for  sale.  The  matter  was  taking  a  tangible  form, 
and  numbers  went  forward  to  purchase,  and  thus  show 
their  antagonism  to  the  illegality  being  enacted.  The 
police  interfered,  and  demanded  the  papers.  Meany 
and  Brenan  peremptorily  refused.  The  excitement  in- 
creased; the  journalists  offering  their  wares,  thepolicio 
demanding  them,  the  former  resisting,  and  the  crowd 
cheering.     The  detective  police,  by  their  own  testimo- 


STEPlIExV  .roSEPn  MEANT. 


239 


ny,  wero  Icickod  and  eufTod  and  dra-ir(,d  In  tlio  excite- 
nierit,  and  Meany  and    Bronan    wero  arrested  for  an- 
sault  and  conveyed  to  the  Colleiro  Btreot   station,  tbl- 
owed  by  considerable   number.,  wlio  repeatedly  and 
loudly  clieered  the.n.     The  excitement  before  tile  Ma- 
gistrate lost  nothing  in  interest,    Brenan    defendin.. 
linnsell;  andit  being  generally  snpposed-from  the 
iisa.<res   of    those    days-that    the    gentlemen    were 
al><>ut    being     committed     to    Newgate,  under    the 
Gagging  Act,"  for  their  writings.     Brenan's  talent 
tor  satire,  which  he  leveled   at  the  "  authorities  "  in 
the  court  room,  did  not  benefit  him.     It  was  decided 
to  accept  bail,  but  to  send  his  case  for  trial ;  while 
Meany,  being  legally  defended,  was  set  free  on  his  own 
recofrnizance. 

Both  parties  had  thoroughly  aroused  the  vindinctive 
watchfulness  of  the  Castle  officials ;  and  havino-  loft 
Unbim  on  the  suspension  of  the  lla-beas  Corpus  Act 
and  the  consequent  scattering  of  the  leaders  to  the 
bills,  were  arrested  together  in  the  west,  while  seekin.r 
some  sphere  of  action  to  precipitate  revolution.  ^^ 

Meany  was  in  the  clutches  of  the  Governinont  for 
about  nine  months;  a  prisoner  in  Belfast,  Ts^ewgate 
(Dublin)  and  Kilmainham  jails.  The  friendship  which 
kindred  sympathies  suggested  between  Meany  and 
Brenan  in  the  streets  of  Dublin,  was  strengthened  in 
prison,  and  some  poetical  illustrations  of  it  have  been 
printed,  which  have  an  additional  interest,  now  that 
J>renan,  (one  of  the  brightest  intellects  of  the  era,,)  is  no 
more,  and  that  Meany-re-enacting,  as  it  were,  the 
earlier  phases  of  his  life  which  brought  tkem-  together 


1.        I 


240 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


may  ponder  on  the  association  whicli  brought  a  "  gleam 
of  sunlight "  into  his  cell  while  tenanting  it  years  ago. 

After  ]^fr.  Meany's  release  from  prison,  which  took 
place  on  3rd  March,  1849,  he  became  editor  of  a  pape,]' 
in  the  South  of  Ireland,  and  subsequently  followed  liis 
profession  in  England.  He  was  for  several  years  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  "Whitty,  of  the  Liverpool  Daily  Post 
a/nd  Journal^  as  chief  of  the  staff  of  that  journal,  and 
was  iirst  president  of  the  Liverpool  Press  Association 
before  leaving  the  Old  Country — a  position  "for 
which  his  honhommie  and  graceful  talent  in  a  social 
sense,  as  well  as  his  professional  experience,  well 
fitted  him." 

Mr.  Meany  emigrated  to  the  United  States  some 
seven  or  eight  years  ago,  and  proceeding  to  the  West, 
settled  in  Ohio,  at  Toledo,  where  he  became  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Commercial,  and  subsequently, 
Centre  of  the  circle  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood  of  that 
locality.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  attended  the  third 
National  Congress  of  the  Brotherhood,  held  at  Phila- 
delphia, October,  1865.  On  the  appointment  of  two 
from  each  State  and  District  to  form  a  Committee  on 
Government,  Constitution  and  By-laws,  Mr.  Meany 
was  one  of  the  two  selected  to  represent  Oliio  ;  and  on 
the  adoption  of  the  new  Constitution,  creating  a  Presi- 
dency, Senate,  and  House  of  Delegates  for  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Brotherhood,  he  was  elected  a  Senator. 

"When  the  division  in  the  ranVs  of  the  Fenian  Bro- 
therhood occurred,  he  was  one  of  the  three  Senators 
who  refused  to  secede ;  and  when  the  fourth  ISTational 
Congress  assembled  in  New  York,  January  2,  1866, 


8TEPUEN   JOSEPH  MEJ^y    .  241 

tl,.i,.l^.  ^-f'  ^1     T^    7  '     ^^'  ^^anj  received  the 

■"       ?  "'  Uiiio.    He  almost  immediately  started  on  »n 

to™i„e<,,y  for  Uer  fro=d„,„  J'^:XZZ  td"'  '"  ^""'"  "'=- 

a  JS^^a  tsir.  :;t :r:  tr-.  ^-  ^  ,.rfee.  .„n  .0 
be  free ;  and  whereas  dm-i^  ,7     ?      "^     ""^  P'^^'"  ''"^'"-S  to 

the  Hotunda  of  Duhlin  an    w  I  „'^,7    ""T"""  ""  ""''"'  »" 
and  e^cprcssed  the  hop    of  at  .  ""^  'Wathized  with 

Sutes;  therefore  "°'"^  "^-"■''™  "^  the  American 

patriots  of  IreiL,  ..Z^^Z  17:^2,,^"^'"^ 
imie  receive  from  us  enconragin..  words  and  ,T„  "  """  '" 

to  the  very  extent  of  our  aburiy°„™d  ™  "'^  ''"'''°'=» 

».i  irc^rorEiXnd  i:s:ir  °"'  ^-^"^  •'^"  ^"''- 

t.e  fact  .hat  Ireland  is  In  a  s^rTf  'T Z  tX.T'-™™'  "' 
c-...ed  warfare,  entitled  .o  aii  the  ri,,:' ^^Litl" ;.'tio'r  "' 

*  *  *  jfc 

6.  That  as  England  assunias  the  ri<rht  bv  v\vu^.    f     •    * 
Clare  war  agauist  the  Irish  p-^oole  Z.'^  °^  '"'°^^^  ^°  ^^«- 

reiterate  our  right  to  exterou  ~^^  ^^^^^^  «^'^^-S 

nationality,  and  with  the  cause  oTZ  t    t  """''  °^  ^"^'^ 

the  Irish  Republic  1  '^'  ^''^  P^^^"^°^      ^-^^S  Hvo 


f 


FENIAN  HEEoES  MSD  UkXtTtOk 

On  St.  Patrick's  Day,  Mr.  Meany  addressed  fh© 
citizens  of  Pouglikeepsie  with  eloquence  and  earnest- 
ness, giving  an  interesting  sketch  of  his  early  experi- 
ence of  the  festival  in  his  native  county  of  Clare,  and 
conjuring  up  the  tender  associations  of  the  day  whicli 
fills  the  breast  of  every  Irishman.  He  subsequently 
spoke  at  a  series  of  great  demonstrations  in  Philadel- 
])hia,  and  proceeded  on  his  tour  thi'ough  the  great 
AVest,  where  his  energy  was  conspicuously  effective. 

Mr.  Meany's  predilections  for  journalism  and  en- 
thusiasm in  the  Irish  cause  led  him,  in  July,  1866,  to 
start  a  journal  for  the  advocacy  of  the  latter  in  Hew 
York.  It  did  not  prosper;  and  after  settling  hia 
business,  Mr.  Meany  went  to  England  to  visit  some 
members  of  his  family. 

He  Avas  arrested  in  London,  conveyed  to  Mountjoy 
prison,  Dublin,  and  committed  for  trial  on  the  chargo 
of  Treason-felony.  The  Commission  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer  was  opened  on  the  13th  April,  1867.  And 
Mr.  Meany  was  arraigned  on  a  chargo  of  Treason- 
felony.  He  plead  not  guilty.  Mr.  O'Loghlen  applied 
for  a  bill  of  particulars  of  the  overt  acts,  which 
was  denied  by  the  Attorney-General.  Mr.  Meany 
was  found  guilty  by  the  jury  of  making  certain 
speeches  in  New  York,  and  offering  Fenian  bonds 
for  sale.  The  wretched  creature  who  played  tlie 
role  of  informer  in  his  case,  was  a  Joseph  Devany, 
who  lived  in  Hew  York  for  "  eighteen  or  nineteen 
years ;"  became  a  member  of  the  Shields'  Circle  in 
October,  1865,  and  was  subsequently  Secretary  of  a 
Circle,  and  was  sent  to  Ireland  in  January,  1867,  to 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANT. 


243 


i 


give  the  needful  information,  by  one  of  the  agents  of 
the  British,  who  have  been  watching  events  in  New 
York  and  elsewhere  for  the  past  few  years. 

The  presiding  Judge,  Baron  Hughes,  refused  to 
sentence  Mr.  Meany,  on  the  ground  that  the  court  had 
no  jurisdiction  in  the  case.      The  points  raised  by 
Baron  Hughes  were  subsequently  argued  before  tho 
Court  of  Error,  when  six  of  the  Judges  gave  judc. 
ment  affirming  the  verdict  of  the  jury,  and  four  dit 
sented.     As  a  consequence,  Meany  was  brought  up 
for  sentence;  and  on  Friday,  21st  June,  1867,  in  an- 
swer to  the  usual  question,  at  the  Commission  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer,  he  delivered  tlie  following  exceedingly 
able  speech,  which,  from  tlie  peculiarity  of  the  c^se 
and  the  probability  tliat  it  will  be  the  basis  of  somo 
international  action,  is  worthy  of  careful  perusal.     It 
is,  moreover,  a  worthy  and  able  culmination  of  Mea- 
ny's  efforts  in  the  cause  of  liis  country.     It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  draw  the  especial  attention  of  the  reader 
to  the  base  overtures  made  to  the  prisoner,  in  his  diffi- 
culty,   by  the    British   Government,    the   officers   of 
which  had  asked  him  to  give  evidence  for  the  Queen 
against  the  members  of  the  Fenian  party  just  arrested 
at  Dungarvan,  in  the  County  Waterford. 

As  Meany  almost  madly  scorned  the  insulting  pi-o- 
position  in  the  cell,  he  manfully  exposed  it  in  the 
dock ;  and  also  the  prospect  of  liberation  in  six  months 
tendered  to  him,  if  he  would  plead  guilty  to  the 
charges  in  the  indictment ;  which  he,  as  a  man  and 
an  American  Citizen,  would  not  and  could  not  do- 
knowing  he  had  committed  no  crime. 

» 


244 


tENUH  HEROES  AKD  HARTYE8. 


i;»flH    t! 


Ic  I  r 


Tlie  Cleric  of  tlie  Crown  asked  if  the  i)risoner  had 
anything  to  say  why  sentence  of  death  should  not  be 
passed  upon  him  I  ■     ■  ■  .     •       • 

Mr.  Meany— Most  certainly  I  have.  I  have  much  to  say.  There 
arc  many  reasons  I  could  offer  why  sentence  slioulcl  not — cannot— 
he  pronounced  upon  me  according  to  law,  if  seven  months  of  ab- 
solute solitary  imprisonment,  and  the  almost  total  disuse  of  speech 
during  that  period,  has  left  me  energy  enough,  or  even  language 
Sufficient  for  the  purpose.  But,  yielding  obedience  to  a  sugges- 
tion coming  from  a  quarter  entitled  to  my  respect,  as  well,  indeed, 
OS  in  accordance  with  my  own  feelings,  I  avoid  everything  that 
could  bear  the  aspect  of  speech-making  for  outside  effect.  Be- 
eides,  the  learned  counsel,  who  have  so  ably  represented  me  during 
these  proceedings,  and  the  learned  judges  who,  in  the  Court  of 
Criminal  Appeal,  gave  judgment  for  me,  have  exhausted  all  that 
could  be  said  on  the  law  of  the  case.  Of  their  arguments  and 
opinions  your  lordships  have  judic".d  knowledge,  1  need  not  say 
that,  both  in  interest  and  in  conviction,  I  am  in  agreement  with, 
aud  adopt  the  constitutional  principles  laid  down  by  the  minority 
of  the  judges  in  that  court ;  but  I  have,  at  the  same  time,  suffi- 
cient respect  for  the  dignity  of  the  court,  and  sufficient  regard,  I 
hope,  for  what  is  due  to  myself,  to  concede  fully  and  frankly  ta 
the  majority  a  couscientiouri  view  of  a  novel,  and,  perhaps,  diffi- 
cult question. 

But  I  do  not  seek  too  much  in  asking  that  before  your  lordships 
proceed  to  pass  sentence,  you  will  consider  the  manner  in  which 
the  court  was  divided  on  the  questiou— that  you  will  bear  in  mind 
tliat  the  minority  declaring  against  the  legality  of  the  trial,  and 
the  validity  of  the  conviction,  was  composed  of  some  of  the  ablest 
judges  on  the  Irish  bench,  or  on  any  bench— that  one  of  the 
learned  judges  who  had  presided  at  the  trial  in  the  Commission 
Court,  was  one  of  the  most  empliatio  in  the  Court  of  Appeal  in  de- 
claring against  my  liability  to  be  trieil ;  and,  uioreover— and  sui-cl}- 
he  ought  to  have  known  that  there  was  uot  a  particle  of  evidence  to 
Bustain  the  case  set  up  at  the  last  moment,  and  relied  ui)on  by  the 


'•ff 


STEPHEN  JOSEPH  MEANT.        *   •  £15 

p  im.ii.ies  or  law— for  the  question  was  unprecedentf.fi    hnf  , 

Tnae,  a  loos  a.d  dreao-  topriso„„,en._ta.  away  lom  at^^^!^ 

protests  can  acgativo-no  denunciatlou  of  .1  ""2  rL'T 
jmd  .t  may  be  as  I  have  said,  wo.e  tbaa  useJs  vl  atd  .S 
to  question  a  nght  where  misM  is  predominant.  ^ 

But  fte  mvitation  just  extended  to  me  by  the  offloer  of  the  court 
-If  It  mean  anytbmg-if  it  be  not  lilie  the  rest  a  solemn  Zl  T 
-gives  me.  I  presume,  stiil  ,be  poor  privilege  tfcrmpTlr  7^ 
I  do  complain.    I  complain  that  law'and  Justice  hTvetaen  a^ke 

rett^hiir^^^LTrtraX""^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

the  pleasant  fletion  known  in  the  hm,K  »!     * '  ','=™'""'»'"  «■'" 
l.a.l  a  most  unpleasant  ^S^.Z.TL^.^ZZTuV' 

uuvo  \n   wiiai  aie  lanetinus'^  fovm^fi  <iii.  _        

.J  vvixxavQ      lue  aumoiities,"  I  have 


24G 


»ENIA»   nEKOES  AJfD  JIASTYK3. 


been  kidnapped  in  England,  and  brought  to  this  country,  not  for 
trial,  but  for  condemnation — not  for  justice,  but  for  judgment.     I 
■will  not  tire  the   patience  of  the   court,  nor  exliauat  my  own 
strength,  by  going  over  the  history  of  this  painful  case.     But,  be- 
fore I  proceed  further,  my  lords,  there  is  a  matter  which,  as  sim- 
ply personal  to  myself,  I  should  not  mind,  but  which,  as  involving 
bigh  interests  to  the  community,  and  serious  consequences  to  indi- 
viduals, demands  a  special  notice — I  allude  to  the  system  of  man:- 
facturing  informers.     I  want  to  know  if  this  court  can  inform  me 
t7  wliat  right  an  officer  of  the  crown  entered  my  solitary  cell  at 
Kilmainham  Prison,  on  Monday  last — unbidden  and  unexpected — 
Uninvited  and  undesired.     I  want  to  know  what  justification  there 
Was  for  his  coming  to  insult  me  in  my  solitude  and  in  my  sorrow 
—ostensibly  informing  me  that  I  was  to  be  brought  up  for  sentence 
on  Tlmrsday,  and  in  the  same  breath  adroitly  putting  to  me  the 
question  if  I  knew  any  of  the  men  recently  arrested  near  Dungar- 
van,  and  now  in  the  prison  of  Kilmainham.     Coming  with  a  de- 
tective dexterity,  carrying  in  one  hand,  as  it  were,  a  threat  of  sen- 
tence and  punishment — in  the  other,  as  a  counterpoise,  a  tempta- 
tion to  treachery.     Why  would  a  responsible  officer  of  the  crown 
suppose  that  seven  months  of  imprisonment  had  so  broken  my 
spirits  as  well  as  my  health,  and  that  I  would  be  an  easy  prey  to 
his  blandishments?    Did  he  dream  that  the  prospect  of  liberty 
which  newspaper  rumor  and  semi-official  information  held  out  to 
me,  was  too  dear  to  be  forfeited  by  a  '*  trifling  "  forfeiture  of  honor  ? 
Did  he  believe  that  by  an  act  of  secret  tuipitude  I  would  open  my 
prison  doors  only  to  close  them  the  faster  on  othera  who  may  or 
may  not  have  been  my  friends ;  or  did  he  imagine  that  he  had 
found  in  me  a  Massey,  to  be  moulded  and  manipulated  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Crown,  or  a  Corydon,  to  have  his  conscience  and  cu- 
pidity made  the  incentive  to  his  baseness  ?    I  only  wonder  how 
the  interview  ended  as  it  did  ;  but  I  Icnew  I  was  a  prisoner,  and 
my  self-respect  interposed  for  his  safety  and  my  patience.     Great 
as  have  been  my  humiliations  in  prison,  hard  and  heart-breaking 
as  have  been  the  ordeals  through  which  I  have  passed  since  the 
1st  of  December  last,  there  was  no  incident  or  event  fraught  with 
more  paiu  on  the  one  hand,  or  more  suggestiyeness  on  the  other. 


STEPIIKX  JOSEPH   MEANT. 


247 


than  this  sly  and  secret  attempt  at  improvising  an  informer.     I  can 
f'^rget  the  pain  in  view  of  the  suggest!  veness ;  and,  unpleasant  as 
18  my  position  here  to-day,  I  am  almost  glad  of  the  opportunity 
which  may  end  in  putting  some  check  to  the  spy  svstem  in  prisons. 
How  many  men  have  been  won  from  honor  and  honesty  by  the 
secret  and  steaUhy  visit  to  the  cell,  is  more  than  I  can  say.     How 
many  have  had  their  weakness  acted  upon,  or  their  wickedness 
fanned  into  flame,  by  such  means,  I  have  no  opportunity  of  know- 
mg.      In  how  many  frailty  and  folly  may  have  blossomed  into 
lalsehood,  It  is  for  those  concerned  to  estimate.      There  is  one 
thing,  however,  certain  :  operating  in  this  way  is  more  degrading 
to  the  tempter  than  to  the  tempted,  and  th-^  Government  owes  it  to 
itselt  to  put  an  end  to  a  course  of  tactics,  pursued  in  its  name, 
which,  m  the  results,  can  only  bring  it  to  humiliation.     The  pub- 
lie  are  bound,  in  self-protection,  to  protect  the  prisoner  from  tho 
prowlmg  vists  of  a  too  zealous  official.     I  pass  over  these  things 
my  lords,  and  I  will  ask  your  attention  to  the  character  of  the  evi- 
dence on  which  alone  my  conviction  was  obtained— the  evidence 
of  d  special,  subsidized  spy,  and  of  an  infamous  and  ingrate  in- 
tormer.     I  need  not  say  that  in  all  ages,  and  amongst  all  peoples 
the  spy  has  been  held  in  marked  abhoneuce.     In  the  amnesties  of 
<var,  there  is  for  him  alone  no  quarter-in  the  estimate  of  social 
hfe,  no  excuse;  his  self-abasement  excites  contempt,  not  compas- 
»ion-his  patrons  despise  while  they  encourage;    and  they  who 
stoop  to  enlist  the  services,  shrink  with  disgust  from  the  moral 
leprosy  covering  the  servitor.     Of  such  was  the  witness  nut  for- 
tvard  with  the  design  of  corroborating  the  infonner,  and  stiii  not 
corroborating  him.  Of  such  was  that  phenoiPeuou-a  police  spv— 
who  actually  declared  himself  on  that  tabic  an  unwilling  witue«=s 
for  the  Crown.     Did  anyone  believe  him  ?     There  was  no  reason 
why  he  should  have  been  reluctant;  he  confessed  that  he  had  not 
known  me  previously,  and  there  could  not  have  been  personal 
feeling  in  the  matter.     But  I  have  no  desire  to  speak  harshly  of 
Inspector  Doyle;    his  bread  depended  on  his  acquiescence  •    he 
swore  in  presence  of  the  Crown  Solicitor,  and  was  not  contradict- 
ed,  that  he  was  compelled  by  threats  to  ascend  the  witness-table. 
The  man  may  have  had  cogent  reasons  for  his  reluctance,  in  hia 


248 


FKNTAN    KKUOKS   AND   MARTYRS. 


iJ 


own  cons(;ionoo  ;  God  will  jnd-o  1,1m.     r»tit  how  shall  I  npeak  of 
th(>  Inlbmior,  Mr.  J„I,n  Dov.uiy  ?     What  lunffua-o  should  b(!  om- 
ploycd  (o  dosciibo  the  traitor  ai)y— tho  man  who  adils  to  thy  guilt 
of  perfidy  to  his  assoc.  vtes,  tho  dcop  and  danminir  curse  o(  porttdy 
to  his  CJod-tho  man  who,  nvting  ofyour  bread,  sharing  your  con- 
lidcnco,  and  holding,  as  it  wore,  your  very  purso-strings,  all  tho 
tune  meditates  your  overthrow,  and  j  ursuos  it  to  its  a(-c(^mplish- 
mont.     How  proud  the  wretch  who,  under  i)rotoxt  of  agreement 
in  your  opinions,  worms  hims(>lf  into  yo.ir  secrets  only  to  betray— 
who,  upon  th(!  same  altar  with  you,  pledges  his  faith  and  fealty  to 
the  same  imnciples,  and  then  aelia  faith,  and  fealty,  and  principles, 
and  you  alike,  for  the  unhallowed  Judas  guerdon.     Of  such,  on 
his  own  confessinu,  was  that  distinguished  upliolder  of  tho  British 
Crown  and    >overnmcnt-Mr.   Dovany.     With  an  cfTrontery  that 
gid  not  f,.  or,  and  knew  not  how  to  blush,  he  detailed  his  own 
particinat'  ,a  in  the  acts  for  which  he  was  giving  evidence  against 
me  as  a  participator.     And  is  evidence  of  this  kind— a  conviction 
obtained  upon  such  evidence— any  warrant  for  u  sentence  depriv- 
ing a  man  of  liberty— of  all  that  makes  life  enjoyable  or  desirable 
—home,  friends,  and  family?     It  is  needless  to  describe  a  wretch 
of  that  stamp— his  actions  speak  his  character.     It  were  superllu- 
ous  to  curse  him  ;  his  whole  existence  will  be  a  living  curse.     No 
necessity  to  use  tlie  burning  words  of  the  poet,  and  pray— 

May  Hfo'B  unblessed  cup  for  him 

Be  drugged  with  treacheries  to  tho  brim. 


Every  sentiment,  in  his  regard,  of  the  countiy  ho  has  dishonored 
and  the  people  he  has  humbled,  will  be  one  of  hate  and  horror  of 
the  informer;  every  sigh  sent  up  from  the  hearts  he  has  crushed, 
and  the  homes  he  has  made  desolate,  will  be  mingled  with  execra'- 
tions  of  the  very  name.  Every  heart-throb  in  the  prison  cells  of 
this  land,  where  his  victims  count  time  by  corroding  thought— 
every  grief  that  finds  utterance  from  these  victims,  amidst  the  in- 
dignities  of  the  convict  gangs  in  the  quames  of  Portland,  will 
ascend  to  Heaven  freighted  with  curses  on  the  Nagles,  the  Deva- 
neys,  the  Masseys,  the  Gillcspios,  the  Coiydons,  and  the  whole 


ITEniKN  JOBKVll  SrKANX 


240 


cat  to  n.nr  ,,nn,.,pl.s,  l.uvc  (..arnphmsin.  tl„,  wohIh  c.f  Moor.) 

t  u..r  God  ;  wn.(cl..s  who,  lor  paltry  pay,  or  fro.n  pnllry  (n.r,  l.avo 
emrnhnodthnr  nK.,„on,.H  in  i„.p,.i.,.al>l.  in.a.ny,  ancf.on  i-." 
thcr  aceurBcd  a,am.H  to  an  inglorious  innnortaiity.     Nor  wH 
«poculato  on  tl.oir  c.-arccr  in  t,l.«  futnn,,     Wo  have  it  on  ti.e  b  s 
-   u>r.ty  oxtant.  that  a  diHtin^nishnl  i„(V>rmc.r  of  antiquity,  I  ^ 
^^U.  n.nHM.0,  I  row  away  his  h,oo<l  n.on.-y^his  piece   o/;i:v^ 
and  -wen   forth  and  hanged  hin.self  with  a  halter.-     Wo  know 
that  m  modem  times-even  within  the  memory  of  «omo  still  livi^ 
--a  governn,ent  m  this  country  actually  set  tl,o  edifyin.r  and 
pra>soworthy  example  of  hanging  an  informer  when  they  hil  no 
further  use  of  his  valuable  services-^^/.u.  droppir^ry  his  i-r'  J 
«nce  ^m.^.t,     God  knows  I  ,,ave  .o  w^sh  for  ILHI  t 
any  of  the  mformers  who  have  cropped  out  so  luxuriously  in  these 
atter  duys-a  long  life,  and  a  troubled  conscience  would   perh.ns 

ncKlent  eompensat.on,  a  poetic  justice,  in  a  temination  so  exalted 
to  a  career  so  brilliant  I  leave  these  i.counclrols,  and  turu  for  » 
moment  to  their  victims.  * 

And  here  I  would,  without  my  reference  to  my  own  case^ar,^ 
regard  to  the  fate  before  n.yself-^earnestly  imp  Jo  that  Z^Z 
Vjith  pohtical  prisoners  should  not  be  merc'y  lelescopfc  in  U^ 
character,  distance  lending  "enchantn.cnt  to  tl^  view;'  Ld  thtj 
When  your  statesmen  sontimentali.e  «pon.  and  your  iournals    e. 
nounco  ar  away  tyrannies-tho  horrors  of  Neapolitan  dun^c^n. 
the  abridgement  of  personal  liberty  in  Spain,  and  the  exerdso  of 
ai-b.trary  power  m  other  European  count ries-they  would  turn 
heir  eyes  homeward,  and  examine  the  treatment  of  liieir  own  p<^ 
htical  prisoners.     I  would,  iu  all  suicerity,  suggest  that  humane 
and  well-meaning  persons,  who  exert  themselves^  praver  .n    ne 
.tion  for  the  remission  of  the  death  penalty,  as  V^I^^XZ  " 
ather  pray  and  petition  that  the  long  death  of  solitary  and    •  I-n^ 
cap  ivity  should  be  remitted  to  the  more  merciful  doom  ot  imme 
^ate  reu,  ,       ^..^ering  by  immediate  execution-the  oppo   u" 
ty,  at  least,  ot  an  immediate  appeal  from  man's  cmelty  to  (  od'3 


250 


PENIAN    HEROES  AND  MAETTK8. 


■  ; 


i  ■ 


Justice.     I  speak  strongly  on  this  point,  because  I  feel  It  deeply, 
my  lords ;  and  I  speak  not  without  example.     At  the  Commission 
at  wliich  I  was  tried,  there  was  tried  also,  and  convic;  d   ,  voung 
mail  named  Stowell.     I  well  remember  tiiat  raw  und  dreary  mom- 
111^',  the  12th  or  March,  when,  handcufied  to  Slowell,  I  was  sent 
Irom  Kilmainham  Prison  to  the  County  Jail  of  Kildare.     I  well 
remember  our  traversing,  so  handculled,  from  the  town  of  Salins 
to  the  town  of  Naas,  ankle  deep  in  snow  and  mud;  and  I  recall 
with  pain  our  sad  forebodings  of  that  morning.     Tiiese,  in  part 
have  been  fulfilled.     On  Sunday  after  Sunday  at  chapel  in  the  jad, 
I  saw  poor  Stowell  drooping  and  dying.     One  such  Sunday,  the 
12th  of  May,  passed,  and  I  saw  him  no  more.     On  Wednesday, 
15th  May,  I  accidentally  heard  of  his  discharge— mercifully  disl 
charged,  as  they  say ;    but  the  fiat  of  mercv  had  previously  gone 
forth  from  a  higher  Power;    the  political  convict  merely  reached 
his  home  in  Dublin  to  die  with  loving  eyes  watching  by  his  death 
bed.     On  Sunday,  the  19th  May,  his  body  was  conveyed  to  his 
last  prison-house,  in  Glasnevin  Cemetery.     May  God  have  mercy 
on  his  soul.     May  God  forgive  his  murderers  I     May  God  givo 
peace  and  patience  for  those  who  are  bound  to  follow.     Pardon 
this  digression,  my  lords;  it  was  wrung  from  me— I  could  not 
avoid  it. 

.       Eeturaing  to  the  question  why  sentence  should  not  be  pro- 
nounced  upon  me,  I  would  ask  your  lordships'  attention  to  a  fact, 
showmg  how,  even  in  the  estimate  of  the  Crown,  the  case  is  not 
one  for  sentence.     On  the  morning  of  my  trial,   and  before  tnie 
terms  were  oflTered  to  me  by  the  Crown,  the  direct  proposition  was 
conveyed  to  me  by  my  learned  friend  and  Solicitor,  Mr.  Lawless 
by  the  learned  counsel,  Mr.  O'Loghlen,  who  so  ably  defended  me' 
ftm!  by  Mr.  Price,  the  Governor  of  Kilmainham  prison-by  all 
three  separately,  that  if  I  consented  to  plead  guilty  to  the  indict, 
ment,  I  should  get  off  with  six  months'  imprisonment.     Knowing 
the  phancyof  Dublin  juries  in  political  cases,  the  offer  was,  doubt- 
less, a  tempting  one-valuing  liberty,  it  was  almost  resistless  in 
view  of  possible  penal  sei-vitude-but  having  regard  to  principle  I 
spumed  the  compromise.     I  then  gave  unhesitatingly,  as  I  would 
now  give,  the  answer  that  not  for  a  reduction  of  the  penalty  to  six 


in^fTT^N  josEpn  meant. 


251 


boon  wonM  Ignrrendcr  laith— that  I  need  never  look,  and  could 
Bever  I(H,k  wife  or  children,  friends  or  family,  in  the  t\uo  again 
Wilh  H  consciousness  of  manhood,  if  capable  of  such  selfish  cow- 
Mdico.     I  could  not,  to  save  myself,  imperil  the  safety  of  others. 
I  could  not  plead  guilty  to  an  indictment,  in  the  overt  acts  of 
Which  six  others  were  deliberately  charged  by  name  ns  co-conspi- 
mtor*  with  me— one  of  these  since  tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced 
to  deuth-~^I  could  not  consent  to  obtain  my  freedom  at  the  risk  of 
theirs,  and  become,  even  though  innocently  and  indirectly,  worthy 
of  fjvnk  wilh  that  brazen  battalion  of  venal  vagabonds  who  have 
mado  the  Holy  Gospels  of  God  the  medium  of  barter  for  that 
waholy  gain ;  obtaining  access  to  the  inmost  heart  of  their  selected 
▼Ictims,  only  to  coin  its  throbbings  into  the  traitor's  gold  and  traf- 
fic on  ltd  veiy  life-blood.     I  stand  at  this  bar  a  declared  citizen  of 
the  United  States,  and  I  protest  against  the  right  to  pass  any  aen- 
tence  in  any  British  court  for  acts  done,  or  words  spoken,  or  al- 
leged  to  be  done  or  spoken  on  American  soil,  within  the  shadow 
Of  the  American  flag,  and  under  the  sanction  of  American  institu- 
tlon^.     I  protest  against  the  assumption  that  would  in  this  country 
bind  tiie  right  of  thought,  or  control  the  liberty  of  speech  in  an 
assemblage  of  American  citizens  in  an  American  city.     The  United 
Stales  will,  doublless.  respect  and  protect  her  neutrality  laws,  and 
Observe  "the  comity  of  nations,"  whatever  they  mean  in  practice 
—but  I  repeat,  I  protest  against  tbe  monstrous  fiction—the  trans- 
parent  fraud^that  would  seek  in  ninety  years  after  the  evacuation 
of  New  York  by  tlie  British,  to  bring  the  people  of  New  York 
within  the  vision  and  venue  of  a  British  jury  in  a  British  law  court 
I  protest  against  the  "supposition  "  that,  in  ninety  years  after  th^ 
last  British  bayonet  had  glistened  in  an  American  sunlight— after 
tUe  last  keel  of  the  last  of  the  English  fleet  ploughed  its  last  fur- 
row in  tlie  waters  of  the  Hudson  or  the  Delaware,  would  restore 
tiiat  city  of  New  York,  its  pen]  e,  and  institutions  to  the  domini- 
ons of  the  Crown  and  Government  of  Great  Britain.     That  is  the 
meaning  of  this  case.     And  so,  disguise  it  as  the  Crown  may,  will 
It  l)e  interpr(!led  in  America.     Not  that  the  people  in  America 
would  care  one  jot  that  Stephen  Joseph  Meany  were  hanged, 
diawn,  and  quartered  to-morrow ;  but  there  is  a  great  Drinciple 


252 


FEXIAN    IIEnOES   AXD   MAKTYRS. 


IM 


involved.     Ppisnnnlly  I  am  of  no  consoquniro  In  tl.o  affiUr-no- 
lUinilly,  I  ropn-scnt  In  this  rourt  the   Irish  u.loptcl  citizens  of 
Americu-for  if,  ns  tl.c  miw  York  Herald,  willin-  on  tl.e  Hub- 
jecf,  has  ohscrvcl,  the  acts  done  in  my  regard  are  held  to  he  jusli- 
flable,  there  is  nothing  to  prevnt  the  extension  of  the  same  juslico 
to  any  other  adopted  citizen  visiting  Great  IJritain.     It  is,  there- 
fore,  m  the  Injustice  of  the  case  the  inlhiencc  lies,  and  not  in  tlie 
importance  of  tlie  Individual.     Law  Is  called  "  the  perlenion  of 
n;a..on."    Is  there  not,  really,  danger  of  Us  being  regarded  as  the 
very  chmax  of  absurdity,  if  fictions  of  this  kind  can  bo  turned  Into 
realities  on  the  mere  caprice  of  p„wei'  ?     As  a  distinguished  Eng- 
lish journalist,  in  reference  to  the  case,  has  suggested— "  Thou-h 
the  law  may,  doubtless,  be  satisfied  by  the  majority  in  the  Court 
of  Appeal,  yet  common  sense  and  common  law  would  be  widely 
antagonistic  if  sentence  were  to  follow  a  judgment  so  obtained  " 
On  all  grounds,  then,  I  sul)mlt  this  is  not  a  case  Tor  sentence. 
Waiving  for  tfie  purpose  the  international  objection,  if  I  may  so 
term  it,  I  appeal  to  British  justice  itself  on  the  matter.     Tue  pro- 
fessed policy  of  that  justice  lias  ever  been  to  give  the  benefit  of 
doubts  to  the  accused.     Judges,  in  their  charges  to  juries,  have 
uniformly  theorized  on  the  principle;  and  surely  judges  themselves 
will  not  refuse  to  give  practical  effort  to  the  theory.     J\Iy  lords,  I 
Lave  now  done,  with  this  exception,  there  is  one  more  observation 
with  reference  to  myself  wMch,  with  your  lordships'  permission,  I 
will  reserve  until  my  sentence  is  pronounced.     It  is  one  simply 
putting  forward  a  matter  of  fact,  with  a  desii'c  of  placing  myself 
light  before  my  country. 

Judge  O'Hagan  intimated  to  the  prisoner  that 
whatever  observations  lie  had  to  offer,  sliould  be  made 
before  tlie  sentence  of  tlie  court  was  pronounced. 

Mr.  Meanj  said  there  had  been  much  poetic  iiction 
circulated  concerning  him.     Before  his  trial  bj  jury 
he  underwent  a  trial  by  journal ;  but  there  was  one 
fact  to  which  he  should  especially  refer— he  alluded 


STEPHEN  JOSEI'U   MEANY. 


253 


to  tlio  language  of  the  Attorney-General,  when  he 
said  that  lie  (the  prisoner)  was  one  of  the  liost  of  plun- 
derers tliat  were  living  on  the  money  of  the  Fenian 
Brotherhood,  and  other  petty  charges  of  that  kind. 
In  that  court  he  should  ])rotc8t,  and  before  a  higher 
and  more  just  tribunal,  tiiat  never,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, was  he  the  recipient  of  one  penny  profit  or 
emolument,  in  any  shape  whatever,  from  the  Fenian 
Brotherhood,  or  any  other  political  organization,  nor 
was  he  ever  a  paid  or  salaried  officer  of  the  Brother- 
hood. He  came  to  this  country  on  private  and  family 
business,  and  that  the  Crown  could  not  prove  that  he 
had  since  November,  18Cu,  by  word,  act,  or  writing, 
taken  part  in  any  proceedings  that  had  taken  place  fn 
the  country.  He  was  now  done,  and  was  ready  to 
receive  the  sentence  of  the  court. 

Mr.  Meany  was  listened  to  with  the  utmost  atten- 
tion by  everyone  present  in  court,  and  after  a  short 
address,  of  a  somewhat  complimentary  nature,  from 
the  judge,  Mr.  Meany  received  the  sentence  of  Fifteen 
Years'  Penal  Servitude. 


254 


FENIAiJ  HEROES  AIJD  MABTTBS, 


CAPTAIN  P.  J.  COKDOK. 

Youtli  and  school  dnys— Emigrates  to  America— Enters  the  army— In  the  TrJsb 
Brigade-Goes  to  Ireland— Arreeted-Correspondence  with  U.  S.  Consnl— 
Liuerated— Goes  a  second  time  tolreland— Arrested  again— Tncd— Acquitted. 

Pathtck  Joseph  Condoi^,  one  of  the  most  efficient 
officers  of  the  Brotherhood,  and  wlio  was  lucky  enongli 
to  escape  the  chitches  of  the  British  Government,  was 
born  at  Craves,  near  Cahermojle,  County  of  Limerick, 
on  the  16th  February,  1831.     Tlie  Condons  had  con- 
siderable possessions  in  tlie  locality;    and  the  father 
of  our  hero,  having  received  a  portion  of  the  paternal 
estate,  cultivated  it  until  the  Summer  of  1839,  when 
lie  sold  it,  intending  to  emigrate  to  Australia.     An  ac- 
cident to  his  wife  altered  the  intention  of  the  family, 
which  removed  to  an  adj-icent  town,  where  the  father 
extensively  entered  into  the  business  of  a  builder,  to 
which,  conjointly  with  farming,  he  had  been  bred. 
After  attending  the  best  English  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, young  Patrick  Joseph  was  sent,  at  the  age 
of  twelve,  to  a  Greek  and  Latin  school  at  Shanagol- 
den,  from  which  he  was  transferred,  in  1845,  to  *the 
Classical  Institute  of  Kilmallock,  where  he  remained 
until  the  '48,  when  he  hastened,  though  but  seventeen 
y^ars  old,  to  join  the  Tipperary  insurgents.     About 


11 


CAM'AIN  P.  J.   CONDON. 


2o5 


this  time  he  learned  that  his  father  destined  liim  for 
the  priesthood,  an  elder  brother  having  been  already  lor 
some  years  in  holy  orders.  Not  agreeing  with  the 
fiimily  vie\vs  regarding  his  future,  young  Condon 
passed  a  creditable  examination  for  the  Dublin  Medi- 
cal Hall,  in  18i9 ;  but  owing  to  pecuniary  circum- 
Btances,  he  was  unable  to  prosecute  his  ambition  in  the 
medical  profession,  and  consequently  adopted  his  fa- 
ther's business.     He  emigrated  to  America  in  1852. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out,  Mr.  Condon's  de- 
votion to  rhe  integrity  of  republican  liberty  inspired 
him  to  en,^.er  the  army.     He  joined  the  Emn'iet  Guard, 
a  company  of  the  2d  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  then  commanded 
by  an  old  and  valued  friend.  Captain  John  Kennedy. 
His  attainments  soon  asserted  themselves,  and  he  was 
nominated  for  a  lieutenancy  before  he  had  served  two 
months  ;  but,  having  carried  a  hostile  message,  he  was 
detailed  on  recruiting  service  to  New  York.     He  sub- 
sequently raised  a  company  for  the  G3d  Eegiment,  N. 
Y.   Y.,  which  joined   Meagher's   Irish   Brigade   and 
greatly  distinguished  itself  throughout  some  of  the 
most  brilliant  and  bloody  scenes  of  the  war.     With 
this^  command,  Captain  Condon  was  most  honorably 
distinguished,   never   having   missed    a  march  or  a 
battle  in  which  the  Brigade  took  part  from  its  forma- 
tion to  the  consolidation  of  its  regimental  remnants. 
He  received  a  bullet  wound  in  the  thigh  at  Antietara, 
commanded  his  regiment  at  ilie  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, and  was  placed  in  command  of  an  important 
post,  Banks'  Ford,  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
"Which  he  held  with  seven  officers  and  one  hundred  and 


256 


FEXIAU   HEROES  AND  MATvTYES. 


«  K 


i\J 


fifty  men  for  five  days  and  nights,  while  the  fighting 
raged  furiously  all  around  him.  He  was  finally  com- 
pelled to  swim  the  river,  in  the  middle  of  which  he 
lost  jiis  horse  from  under  him.  On  St.  Patrick's  eve, 
1SG3,  CaiDtain  Condon  was  presented  with  a  sword  of 
honor  by  citizens  of  JS'ew  York,  in  appreciation  of  his 
gallant  services  in  the  field. 

After  the  consolidation  of  the  Brigade,   Captain 
Condon  received  a  confidential  position  in  the  United 
States  Engineer  Department  as  inspector  and  shipper 
of  materials  for  fortifications,  and  was  giving  the  full- 
est satisfiiction,  when  he  received  an  order,  in  the  Sum- 
mer of  18G5,  to  proceed  to  Ireland  to  take  a  command 
in  the  anticipated  uprising.     Captain  Condon  had 
joined  the  F.  B.  soon  after  his  first  landing  in  Ameri- 
ca,  and,  as  became  an  earnest  and  zealous  member,  he 
at  once  obeyed  the  order  of  his  superior  officer  in 'the 
organization.     He  accordingly  resigned  his  situation 
m  the  U.  S.  service,  and  even  sold  property  to  go.     He 
left  [N'ew  York  for  Ireland  in  September,  1865,  and 
was  arrested  at  Harold's  Cross,  a  suburb  of  Dublin, 
on  the  23d  February,  1866,  on  suspicion,  under  the 
suspension  of  the  Ilaheas  Corpus  act.     From  ^n  ad- 
dress made  to  the  President  of  the  United  States^ 
inclosing  a  correspondence  with,  and  complaining  of. 
J\Ir.  West,  the  United  States  Consul  at  Dublin— a  nar- 
rative  of   Captain   Condon's   imprisonment   may   ba 
found  in  his  own  words.     Writing  from  liilmainham 
jail,  March  9,  to  the  Consul,  he  sayss 


OAPTAm  p.  J.   CONDON.  257 

•  Han,,.,.  c..„.,  L^;?::^:'t  izrrr .Ta  r  'ts " 

l-spccor  Clillbrd  and  a  s<,„acl  of  tk,  dcoo^e  forcf ''l  L        * 

some  cell  or  nnv^'  witlmnf  on,r  „i       •  o       ^  <*  "uii_y,  lodui- 

it  not  fnv  fUn  1        '  ^  sleeping  accommodations.     Were 

the  risk  of  di  missal    "=  ?" ,  .  '^'''"""^"entions  shown  to  us  at 

Blu-uldluavepird      iw!  ;"'""f  ^^"^  "^^  ^^"^'^  t^^*  ^« 
of  the  2Gtl,  nit       7'      r         "^^^"^y^d  ^o  this  prison  on  the  night 

tTon  of  Z  ''""^  '^'  ^"^^"^^  Consul  here  the  protec- 

lion  ot  my  government,"  iJ^oiec- 


nant  to  1i,b  case ;  and  on  tlie  2Sth,  further  says,  the  Vice- 

Z^atT'^'T  'f  "''"'"'^'»  -  "-"--^  of  a- 

abWe  ,  °'-  ?°,  *'''  '*'"''  ^«"<^»"  ^"-""^  l>e  ^^-i'l 
t.IeV  ,."™^'  ^.^"-'"S  that  his  Government  will 
take  a  bold  and  dignified  stand.     He  says  anv  condi 

z  1m  r  f '"'  i '"''""'"'''  '"•■"  *»  •^^- «" - 

the  C„r  I ,  T^"''-  .  ^y  '''''"'  "^  f™"  ''"d  «™^ion 
P  son  of  Capta,n  Condon  nearly  five  months  ia 
Pnson.    On  the  4tl,  J„ly,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the 

ea)  th,.t  the  Lord  Lieutenant  will  order  his  liberation 

StaL".  r"".  '^VJ  '"""•"  <'"-^»'  *o  «^«  United 
btates.'    Captain  Condon  replied  1 


>; 


■^nwwmPWWBMIR 


258 


FENIAN   IIEKOES   AND   MAKTYE8. 


11 


d 


MouNTJOY  Pkison,  July  10,  ISGffi 
Mr.  "William  B.  We8T,  United  States  Consul : 

Sir— On  the  4th  inst.  the  Governor  of  this  prison  read  for  me 
my  conditional  discharge,  wliich  was  in  substance  as  follows  :^. 
That  I  should  go  from  here  to  Queenstown  uuder  police  escort, 
and  t])iere  take  passage  in  a  packet  ship  for  the  United  States  di- 
rect, and  not  return  to  Ireland  within  a  reasonable  time.     I  imme- 
diately refused  to  accept  of  my  release  on  those  conditions,  and 
informed  the  Governor  that  I  had  business  of  considerable  im- 
portance to  myself  to  aiTange  in  this  coimtiy  and  in  Scotland  before 
leaving  Europe,  and  also  that  I  wished  to  go  under  medical  treat- 
men*,  for  a  short  time,  as  my  health  was  much  impah-ed  by  con- 
finement.    Your  letter  of  the  4th  reached  me  on  the  oth  inst., 
which  left  me  no  other  alternative  than  to  recall  my  non-acceptance 
of  release  by  acceptance  of  tlie  conditions  oirered.     Now,  sir,  I 
wish  to  be  informed  by  you  if  those  conditions  are  accepte  i  of  for 
me  by  the  United  States  Government  ?     If  they  are,  I  c-  all  con- 
clude that  grave  and  pressing  reasons  have  urged   upon  it  the 
humiliating  necessity  of  consenting  to  have  its  citizens  (who  are 
neither  charged  nor  convicted  of  any  crime)  marched  like  common 
malefactors  through  the  thoroughfares  of  a  foreign  country,  to  its 
very  confines,  and  thence  banished.     I  say  if  such  necessity  exists, 
I  bow  my  head  to  the  stroke,  but  if  not,  I  shall  sooner  find  a  grave 
here,  which  I  am  very  likely  to  do  if  I  am  kept  much  longer  in 
confinement,  as  my  health  is  bad,  than  accept  of  terms  which ' 
would  lessen  me  even  in  my  own  estimation.     I  respectfully  de- 
mand that  you  send  this  letter,  or  a  copy  of  it,  to  our  J\Iinister  at 
London,   the  reply  to  which  I  Avill  anxifjusly  look  for.     I  prefcT 
adopting  this  com'se  of  sending  to  him  through  you  than  writing 
to  himself  direct.     Very  respectfully  yours." 

The  Consul  writes  on  the  12th  July  that  "  the  terms 
of  your  release,  that  you  should  be  escorted  to  the  ship 
i)y  police,  which  I  learned  for  tlie  first  time  from  your 
letter,  are  accepted  for  you  by  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment," and  two  days  after  informs  him  that  Mr, 
Adams  approves  of  the  same. 


•' 


mt: 


CAPTAIN   P.   J.    CONDON. 


259 


f 


ties  twf  "^^^7'^'^''' ^'^y^  Captain  Condon,  "  by  the  British  author!, 
cented  J.^     \-^^''''^''  ^^'  "'  ^^^^"^  ^  ^^^^^'^^^  doing,  and  ac- 

spo..dod  ,0,  not  alone  by  cvm-  UnUed  ^^t     ?■"  ""'',  """""^  '^ 

the  middle   of  December,   1800.     After  trave'.ins  m 

lingland  and  Scotland,  he  arrived  in  Ireland  in  tl  e 

beginning  of  Febrnaiy,  1807,  and  ™s  again  an",  ed 

m  Cork,  2d  March-through  the  instr.mien    li "  o 

Corydon,  who  knew  him  well,  having  been  a  private 

n  h.3  company  and  transferred  from  ?t,  for  cowardice 

0  hospital  duty.     True  bill,  were  found  against      p.' 

am  Condon  on  the  2Ut  May.     He  was  aiTaigned  f« 

iigh  treason  on  the  32d;  tried  on  the  29th  and  30th 

.equated     By  a  strange  ehai.  ,- circumstances,  Cap! 

noted  actors  in  the  late  Movemeut.    He  k  married  to 


260 


FENIAN   riEEOES   AND  MARTYE8. 


oVpcTJ  oSr  ^"''",^f«?"-  ■' ''-  '•-".r  and  that 
over  To     ■•f.r     f  '^  ''"™  '^'''"  «™"««ted  f» 

n-ime  l|„s  last  circumstance  gave  the  subi-ot  of  o„r 
Bketeh  ,„te„.,e  pain;  and  he  cried  witl  jov  in  Z 
presence  of  his  lawyer,  and  a  fellow  pnW,  Kon  v 

volume  of  excitmg  romance. 


■>       I 


r-^ 


C3E0WLEY,   KELLY   AUD  m'cLUEE. 


261 


PETER  O'NEILL  CEOWLEY,  JOHN-  EDWAED 
KELLY,  CAPTAIN  JOHN  McCLUEE. 

Three  Fenians  give  Battle  to  tlie  Waterford  Column  and  Poiice-Sltetch  of  Peter 
O'Neill  Crowley— Martyrdom  of  his  Uncle,  Father  O'Neill— The  Martyr's 
Heir-His  High  Character-Sketch  of  John  Edward  Kelly-Goes  to  School  in 
Halifax-Emigrates  to  Boston -Becomes  a  Printer—loins  the  Fenians  In 
New  York-Passion  for  Military  Knowledge-Instructs  the  Emmet  Guards  in 
Boston— Goes  to  Ireland— IVlilitary  Instructor  in  Cork— Views  on  Irish  Revo- 
lution-Duties as  Agent  of  the  I.  R.  B.-Plans  at  the  Time  of  the  Rising— 
Sketch  of  John  McClure— Native  of  New  York— Joins  the  11th  N.  Y  V  Cav- 
alry-Service—Mustered (Hit— Goes  to  Ireland-Attacks  Knockadoon  Statio; : 
—Crowley,  Kelly  and  McClure  in  the  Mountains— Fight  in  Ki'cloony  Woods 
—Capture  of  McClure  and  Kelly-Death  of  Crowley-His  Funeral— Popular 
Sympathy-  -McClure  and  Kelly  in  the  Dock— Manly  Speeches— Sentence. 

Where  there  have  been  so  many  individual  instan- 
ces of  gallantly  as  the  personal  adventnres  of  the  Fe- 
nians exhibit,  it  is  difficult  to  assign  the  palm  of  par- 
ticular distinction  to  any  one;  but  it  will  doubtless  be 
conceded  that  the  fight  at  Kilclooney  lYood,  between 
three  1  enians  and  the  British  forces,  was  the  mo'?t  gal- 
lant and  remarkable  conflict  of  the  rising.  Indeed  it 
is  well  calculated  to  add  a  special  glory  to  the  canse 
associated  with  it,  and  to  indicate  a  lasting  reputation 
for  those  engaged  in  it.  That  three  Fenians  should  de- 
fiantly resist  and  offer  battle  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  soldiers,  besides  the  district  constabulary,  bor- 
ders almost  on  the  marvelous.    But  men,  inspired  as 


d&j&y 


2G2  ITKNIAK   IIEBOES  AND   MABTritS. 

tl.cy  wore,  are  capable  of  any  sacrifice-even  life  itself. 

r    e  "o'y  -n  r'  "r  '"'/--•'«-"«.  ^I-ing  men,  are 
rote    O  Ne,ll  Crowley,  Jol,n  Edward  Kell^  and  John 
1  oUure;  and  tlieir  example  and  record  may  be  hand 
ed  down   o  the  admiration  of  tho«e  who  honor  noble 
deeds  and  wdl  strive  to  emulate  them 

1830 '!';  ?,' n""  ^T'-^  ^••''  1-°™  on  tlie  23d  May, 
1 8.32,  at  Ballymacoda,  in  the  connty  of  Cork      His  fa 

ther  was  a  respectable  farn.er,  living  in  t  fe  loca^^tr 
nd  h.  mother  was  the  niece  of  Father  Peter  O'S 
=..,  flogged  m  the  City  of  Cork  in  the  year  '98    was 
.erwar.l.  sentenced  to  transportation  for  life  fo'r  ^ 
.Ibged  comphcty  in  the  rebellion  of  that  year.  WMe 
J-'H  young,  Peter  Crovvley's  father  died,  and  hi  grand 
uncH  the  pr  est,  who  had  been  liberat'ed  fromfd   at 
tcr  hve  years'  mcareeration,  took  tl,e  boy  under  ht 
care,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  directedVat  d,  et 
tent,on  shonld  be  paid  to  educate  him  in  all  the  mod 
ern  branches  of  education.  "* 

As  the   wrongs  suffered  by  Father  O'Neill  wer« 
treasured   bv  the  fimllv     i.,        •  y^'i-in  were 

patriotism  „„  „  *'"'>«'''""'"«  ™  inspiration  to 
patuot  sm-aud  as  they  receive  an  additional  intei-cst 
from  the  blood  poured  out  by  young  Crow  yt' 
avenge  them  a  brief  accnmt  of  them,'fo„nd  „^.<A 
Cnfcal  .™l  ILstorical  Review  of  Fox'  Book  of  Mat 
tyrs  by  Wdham  Eusebius  Andrews,"  wiU  pro"  of 
sad  „,terest.  Most  of  the  „a,-rative  is  ouZZf 
F.itbpp  fj'^ToMP,         i,r>        ""'"'"i*  c.ui acted  from 

23  1803     T         r     Kf,'"-"'*'™n«e."  dated  October 
23   1803.     The  extract  will  speak  lor  itself;  we  shall 
only  premise  that  it  was  wi'ittcn  iu  roolv  to  .  7   7  ]' 
^l^o  had  spoken  of  Lather  iTnlm^  ^^^ 


•a 


CROWLEY,   KELLY  AND  m'cLIIRE.  2G3 

liave  been  guilty  of  sanctioning  the  murders  of  1Y9S, 
transported  to  JJotany  J^ay,  and  since  pardoned  Ly  tlie 
mercy  of  Government."  After  denying  in  tlie  most 
solemn  manner  that  ho  was  guilty  of  the  offence 
charged  against  him  at  his  arrest,  in  1799,  he  thus 
proceeds : 


•'It  was  my  peculiar  misfortune  that  the  charges  then  made 
a-ainst  me  were  not  only  withheld  from  myself,  but  even  my 
li'icnds  had  no  intimation  of  them,  except  by  common  repoit, 
whic-h  then  was  busily  employed  in  disseminatuig   the  various 
atrocities  supposed  to  have  been  committed  by  me ;  but  nothino- 
specifically  authenticated  had  transpired  ;  the  very  committal  was 
BO  vague  as  to  have  excited  the  astonishment  of  a  professional 
friend  ofmine  in  Dublin,  and  to  have  eventually  led  to  my  dis- 
charge.     I   shall  now  proceed  to  the   particulars  of  my  case: 
•Immediately  upon  my  arrest,  I  was  brought  into  Youghal,  where* 
Without  any  previous  trial,  I  was  confin(>d  in  a  loathsome  recepta- 
cle  of  the  bariack,   called  the  blaek  Aofc— rendered  stiU  more 
offensive  by  the  stench  of  the  conunon  necessary  adjoining  it. 

*'In  that  dungeon  I  remained  from  Friday  until  Monday,  when 
I  was  conducted  to  the  Ball-alley  to  receive  my  punishment.  No 
trial  had  yet  intervened,  nor  ever  after.  I  was  stripped  and  tied 
up ;  six  soldiers  stood  forth  for  this  operation ;  some  of  them 
right-handed,  some  of  them  left-handed  men,  two  at  a  time  (as  I 
judge  Irom  the  quickness  of  the  lashes),  and  relieved  at  intervals 
until  I  had  received  two  hundred  and  sevcnty-iive  lashes  so 
Vigorously  and  so  deeply  intilcted  that  my  back  and  points  of' my 

shoulders  were  quite  bared  to  the  flesh But  I  had 

not  hitherto  shaken  the  triangle;  a  display  of  feeling  which  it 
seenis,  was  eagerly  expected  from  me.  To  accelerate  that  spec 
(acle  a  wire  cat  was  mtroduced,  armed  with  straps  of  tin  or  lead     ■ 

.  .  .  .  Whatever  were  its  appendages,  I  eannot  easily  for- 
get the  power  of  it.  In  defiance  of  shame  my  waistband  was  c^ 
tor  the  imishmg  strokes  of  this  kcerating  instrument.     The  ^eiy 


'> 


264 


FENI.VN   HEROES   AlH)  MARTYR3. 


I  r 
i'l' 


first  lash,  as  it  renewed  all  my  panga,  and  shot  conmlsive  agony 
throui^h  my  entire  frame,  made  me  shal<(!  the  triiinglc  iiuleciil.  A 
seeond  intlictinn  of  it  penetrated  my  loins,  and  tore  tli<  in  excru- 
ciatingly;  the  third  nnvintained  tho  tremulous  exliioiiion  long 
enough — tho  spectators  were  satisfied. " 

After  detailing  the  several  means  to  wliicli  the  offi- 
cers— comniisBioned  and  non-commissioned — had  re- 
course, in  order  to  force  from  him  a  confession  of 
guilt,  Father  O'Neill  proceeds: 

"After  I  had  answered  him  (one  of  the  ofllcers)  in  the  corner  of 
the  ball-alley  tiiat  I  would  sull'er  any  death  rather  than  acknow- 
ledge a  crime  whereof  I  was  not  guilty,  ho  told  me  that  I  should 
be  set  at  liberty  if  I  would  agree  to  a  certain  proposal  which  he 
then  made ;  but  justice  and  truth  commandfid  me  to  reject  it. 
When  conducted  to  jail,  after  a  lapse  of  three  hours,  I  was  pre- 
sented with  a  refreshment.  It  appeared  to  be  wine  and  water,  but 
must  have  had  some  other  powerful  ingredient,  for  it  speedily 
brought  on  a  stupor.  The  same  ollicer  soon  roused  me  from  my 
lethargy,  with  a  renewed  effort  to  extort  this  avowal  from  me  ;  he 
drew  his  sword ;  he  declared  he  Avould  never  depart  from  me  until 
it  was  given  in  writing  ;  he  threatened  that  I  should  forthwith  bo 
led  out  again,  flogged  as  before,  shot,  hanged,  my  head  cut  off  to 
be  exposed  on  the  jail-top,  and  my  body  thrown  into  the  river ; 
that  he  would  allow  me  but  two  minutes  to  determine.  Tlien, 
going  to  the  door,  he  called  for  a  scrip  of  paper,  while  the  sentinel 
swore  terribly  at  the  same  time  tliat  he  would  blow  my  brains  out 
if  I  persisted  any  longer  in  my  refusal.  Under  this  impression  I 
scribbled  a  note  to  my  brother,  which  they  instantly  cried  out  was 
•what  they  wanted  ;  the  precise  expressions  of  it  I  do  not  at  this 
moment  recollect ;  it  purported  a  wish  that  my  brotiier  might  HO 
longer  indulge  uneasiness  on  my  account,  for  I  deserved  what  I  got. 
The  olficer  withdrew  ;  my  sister-in-law  then  got  admittance  j  she 
told  me  she  had  just  heard  the  sentinel  say  that  during  my  entire 
pmiishment,  nothing  was  against  me ;  however,  that  the  paper  X 


&m^i 


CBOWI    T,   KELLY  AND  mVlUBE.  265 

the,  afomaM  note.      •  L.»,k  ■  s^    , ,    ^.,  I  "'  '''«'''»""'8 

-Pe;  your  t,-,.a.n,„„t  shaM  be  vo «  „  ,    7"'™.'  "'°'"'"""' 
whatyouwrotf  v,-M,.r,I,v.  .?,?•       ,  """"  "  y™  disown 

to  got  free     rim         w  '         '"'«  """  "  ™  ""'  '»  my  power 

«-,'^idhe,   •.oe.e„,pa,eyo„r«,f"a,'.thea"„red  TZ*" 

K0.es.  n,i.,u  appear  after  »;  death  ""''*  •*  """""'''   ""^ 

■  After  thia  martyr  onr  hero  had  been  namej  and  the 
^ vandnnele  waa  very  much  attached  to  his  no^  lew 
On  Father  O'Neiir^  rl^nt],    ,  t.  nojiiievv. 

under  his  will  al    that  tl!'  ^7  ^"'''  '"^'""'^ 
i»  wjii,  aij  tliat  the  priest  was  wort] i   \u  ih^ 

world,  n,c  luding  his  residence'  The  mante„  ntof 
■e  property  was  assnmed  by  Peter  Crowley's  cIdo"t 
s.ster,  who,  some  years  his  senior  endeavorni  L 
out  fi.ithf„l.y  the  be,„est  of  the  d^tXt  ;r J 
Time  rolled  on,  and  Peter  attaining  his  maCitv' 
worked  w,th  great  energy  on  the  farmlhich  h^d  S 
left  to  him,  and,  by  industry  and  persever™ee  1 
converted  it  into  a  valuable  propertr   He  's  '. 

<I.unk  a  drop  of  spmtuous  liquor  since  he  was  teS 
years  of  age;  and  when  his  day  of  toil  was  eXd  C 
applied  himself  to  study,         I  ' "" 


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266 


FENIAN   HEROES  AND  MAETYES, 


•  I 


Well  vei'&ed  in  the  history  of  his  country,  and  deep- 
ly impressed  by  the  dreadful  punishment  to  which  his 
granduncle  had  been  subjected,  he  was  imbued  witli 
feelings  of  the  deepest  hostility  towards  the  English 
Government.  Peter  Crowley's  grandfather  was  like- 
wise mixed  up  in  the  movement  of  '98,  and  for  two 
years  he  was  a  proclaimed  outlaw ;  in  short,  he  was 
descended  from  rebels.  It  was  natural  for  him  to  be 
national;  and,  joining  the  Fenian  Brotherhood — of 
which  he  was  a  member  for  several  years — he  threw 
himself  heart  and  soul  into  the  movement,  fostering 
its  designs  and  extending  its  ramifications.  His  na- 
ture was  high-toned  and  loveable.  He  was  most  wor- 
thy and  excellent  in  his  family  relations — the  best  of 
brothers  ;  and,  rather  than  cause  those  with  whom  he 
lived  any  uneasiness,  he  was  accustomed  to  steal  out 
at  night,  unobserved,  with  a  view  to  forwarding  the 
cause  which  was  so  dear  to  his  heart,  returning  in  the 
morning  to  his  work,  apparently  unfatigued  by  the 
loss  of  his  night's  rest.  The  blood  of  the  martyrs 
was  in  him,  and  gave  him  strength. 


Mr«: 


The  second  of  this  trio  of  heroes,  John  Edward 
Kelly,  was  born  in  Kin  sale,  County  Cork,  on  the  6th 
July,  1840.  His  parents  emigrated  to  Halifax  when 
the  child  was  but  two  years  old.  He  went  to  school 
there,  and  when  young,  displayed  a  talent  for  drawing, 
for  proficiency  in  which  he  received  a  premium. 
When  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  Bos- 
ton, where  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  printing 


OBOWlEr,  KEILT  Ajm  M'cLttEE.  267 

St;  '*  ''"."'^l''™^""  «f  Which  he  ca,ne  to  Kew 

at  that  time,  numbered  among  its  memhorf  c  i' 

OShea,  and   Francis  Welplv      TIip  fwn  ,  '  ,   '^''"""J 

•Iteams  Station;  and  all  the  others  were  more  th„n 
once,  severe!,  wounded  while  attesting  therdevo  ton 
to  the  cause  of  human  freedom  Uevotjon 

spWhT  *;/"*<^'!S<'  »*•  Captain  Thomas  Kiely-a 
splendid  military  instructor  of   the    United    /,.i 
Army,  and  a  whole-souled  Irish  paWot-Kellfsoon 
became  a  proficient  in  the  use  of  Ihe  rifle  and  W? 
not.      lie    ,™   indefatigable   in    acquiring   miHtC" 
hnowledge     both  theoretically  and  practically-^  J 
he  was  seldom  without  "  Hardee's  Tootles  "ir, 
pocket.     In  the  winter  of  1800,  he  went  "  b"    '^ 
and  became  instructor  of  the  Emmet  Guard   whic^i' 
was  organised  by  the  Brotherhood  soon  after 'his  a! 
iival      So  highly  were  his  services  am.recinted   th-it 
on  his  expressing  his  desire  to  go  to' irelaii  ul   n^ 
Pnrpose  of  aiding  his  compatriots  there  in  „"  ij  ! 
preparations  for  the  work  before  them,  his  friends  in 
Boston    insisted  on   defraying   his    e.pens  „' 


268 


FENIAH   HER0E8  AND   MARlTRg. 


ii  i  I 


After  remaining  a  few  days  witli  liis  old  comrades  in 
New  York,  lie  sailed  for  Ireland  in  tlie  month  of  April, 
1801.  Since  that  time,  up  to  tlie  ontbreak  in  March, 
1807,  he  resided  principally  in  Cork,  where  his  ser- 
vices, in  imparting  military  instruction  to  the  young 
patriots  of  that  city  and  its  vicinity,  under  harrassing 
difficulties,  will  be  long  fondly  remembered. 

Mr.  Kelly  opposed  the  proposition  for  tlie  Emmet 
Guard  to  volunteer  into  the  American  service,  believ- 
ing they  would  be  wanting  immediately  in  Ireland. 
But  when  in  Ireland,  and  seeing  the  tendency  of  events, 
he  was  a  most  earnest  advocate  of  the  Union  cause. 
Kelly,  it  appears,  never  had  much  faith  in  aid  from 
America,  always  contending  that  the  men  in  Ireland 
were  able  to  work  out  their  own  freedom  ,  and  it  was 
only,  says  his  most  intimate  associate,  "  after  the  5th 
March,  1867,  when  he  saw  all  the  branches  broken  for 
want  of  a  common  trunk  or  centre  to  rally  upon,  that 
he  admitted  that  an  expedition  from.  America  was  ne- 
cessary for  success."     After  his  arrival  in  Dublin,  he 
put  himself  in  communion  with  the  authorities  of  the 
I.  II.  B.,  and  went  to  Cork,  where  he  obtained  work 
and  made  friends,  even  with  Oi-angemen,  who  were 
employed  in  the  sanie  establishment.    He  subsequent- 
ly went  to  London,  but,  disgusted  with  England  and 
the  English,  returned  to  Dublin,  and  obtained  employ- 
ment on  the  Irish  People  when  that  journal  was  start- 
ed.    Here  his  talents  were  observed,  and  he  was  sent 
to  Cork  as  an  agent  of  the  organization.     He  soon 
raised  a  company,    and   was   commissioned  a  "  B." 
During  this  period,  his  means  were  often  at  alow  ebb. 


■ 


#it- 


' 


CKOWLEY,  KELLY  AKD  il'cLtTlK  ^^j) 

but  he  found  welcome  and  a  l.onie  in  the  fumily  of  Mr 
and  Mrs.  Jdm  Bucklev    devnf.ul    P     ■  ^  ' 

.1^,,*      x"  T.r  ,,       "^'^it-y,  aovoted    remans,   hoav  rom*. 
dcnts  ot  Maiden,  Ma^«<aclinsPtf«      Tr  .>      . 

lever  he,  a  Protestant,  experienced  the  neatest  cars 

w^t.f rf ' '''-'"'  '-Server;;:: 

the  appalling  scenes  of  the  first  s'pec  1  'fi  J  .^^ 
were  being  enacted  around  him.  lie  alv.v  T^ 
with  such  systematized  ca„uon,  t  he  co^  d  Z'^"^ 
on  bolder  undertakings  than  e^n  thole  wh  tl  "e™ 
known     At  this  time  Thomas  B.  Henne^sr   J " 

swing   thern^  ,he    ^^^^IT^Z^^::^ 
pomts.     It  was  about  this  same  time  that  ZmT 
nessy  writes,  "a  batch  of  Western  oiHcers  Ift  P  T 
recalled  by  Mr.  Scanlan.     Their  de.b*  rdtec^to 
utmost  depi-ession  in  Cork;  and  Kelly  took  h     Boston 
fnends  to  the  meetings  "of  the  Brotherhood,  and  intro 
ducmg  them  to  the  diiTerent   officers    as  ,m.d  T 
that  numbe.  of  others  were  on  thei,:  l^Z^  ''^Z 
acfon  contributed,  in  a  great   measure!  to  re' ass„t 
*e  Centres,  who  were  bogi„.,ing  to  get  dishearte  "d 
when  they  saw  the  men  on  whom  they  depended  for 
leaders  deserting  them."  J  "H'-uuea  lor     .. 

After  undergoing  many  privations  in  Dubhn  and 


>,      :i 


t: 


FEXIAN   HEKOEa   AND   MAETYRg. 

Liveri.ool  in  1  SOfi,  we  find  ICelly,  in  the  Fall  of  tluit 
year,  engaged  as  a  printer  on  tlie  Cork  Herald^  still 
kee})ing  up  the  discipline  of  his  men,  although  he  had 
misgivings  as  to  any  movement  taking  place.  Among 
the  nationalists  of  Cork  "  Kelly's  Men  "  were  known 
as  the  avant-garde — all  "  dare  devils  like  himself."  He 
was  only  dissujided  from  going  to  aid  the  Kerry  rising, 
in  February,  by  being  reminded  that  he  had  "  no  or- 
ders ;"  but  he  made  his  mind  up  to  make  a  certain 
inovement  to  rally  the  people,  if  the  leaders  gave  no 
sign  of  action. 

On  the  Saturday  before  the  rising,  he  called  on 
Crowley,  who  was  in  the  city,  and,  taking  a  walk  with 
him  and  Ilennessy,  unfolded  his  plans  to  them.  Crow- 
ley thought  them  rash  ;  but  Kelly's  eloquence  finally 
won  Crowley's  consent,  who  agreed  to  take  part  in 
them  if  something  else  did  not  occur.  That  "  some- 
thing "  was  the  rising  of  the  5th.  Crowley,  grasping 
Hennessy's  hand,  said :  "  Mr.  Hennessy,  when  we 
meet  again  it  will  be  on  the  battle-field  I "  Ilennessy 
promised  to  join  Kelly's  plans,  but  he  was  assigned  to 
other  duties,  with  the  Cork  forces,  by  Massey.  lie 
never  saw  Crowley  again. 

The  youngest  of  the  Kilcloony  heroes  is  John  Mc- 
Clure,  who  was  born  iTth  July,  1846,  at  Dobbs  Ferry, 
Westchester  County,  State  of  New  York.  His  parents 
were  both  Irish,  his  father,  David  McClure,  being  a 
native  of  Tipperary,  and  his  mother,  who  was  of  the 
O'Donnell  sept,  hailing  from  Limerick  County.  They 
had  emigrated  to  this  country  several  years  before,  and 
were  in  respectable  circumstances  when  John  waa 


' 


He 


CBOWLET,   KELLT  AND   M'cLrRH  27t 

torn.  He  was  their  fifth  child,  and  growing  «p  =.mid 
the  s^ple  scenes  of  country  lite,  in^bibcd  ifs  Wrtues, 
and  surrounded  by  the  magniticence  of  Nature,  ac- 
q>med  ,tB  innate  nobility.  When  able  to  learn  he 
was  sent  to  the  "  district"  sehnnl  ^e  *i  i  1 
u-InV,  !>„  ,1    •      1        ".         ""''"o'  of  the  place,  from 

tinned  a?     >     f  '  ^  "'"  ^"S''«''  ^'"o^fon      He  eon- 
tmued  at  school  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age  when 

and  adviee  of  Ins  elder  brother,  William  James    he 

tt:":.:  ^^'^^t-™'"^  ^■-■'^->"p.  "-  whid.  o::;;: 

time  tLT  ^'J'"*'^''*."'."  to  '™  «"Ployers.    At  this 
time    he  American  evil  war  was  at  its  height,  and 
the  uhosyncrasics  of  the  lad  began  to  exhibit  t'hem- 
seives.^    On  the  morning  of  December  5th,  1863   he 
was  missing  from  his  post ;  nothing  was  known  of'  his 
whereabouts  until  a  note  from  him.  of  the  10th  inst 
stated  that  he  was  bound  for  Washington,  havin<.  en-' 
listed    as  priyate  in  the  11th  N    Y    V    r„     i 
('.'Scott's  900.'>)    The  efforts  of  Ms  faml^  to  t^' 

thrtSre  ofTr^^  — '"«'  -'  - '- — 

After  some  months  of  duty  at  Washington,  part  of 

rI  ""?!,!  ""P^""  ''  "'■^'■'^  '"  '^'  Court  Martial 
Kooms  there,  he  embarked  with  his  regiment  on  hoard 
a  transport  s  np  for  New  Orleans,  where  they  were 
quartered,  making  occasional  incursions  into  the  Con- 
federate  country,  and  checking  the  guerillas,  who  wero 
rampant.  Eyentnally  his  regiment  was  remoyed  u,! 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  many  vyere  the  raids  made 
by  John  and  his  comrades  for  supplies;  and  many 
hard  rides  and  skirmishes  he  experienced  through  Mi*. 


i'  I 


272 


FENIAN   HEKOEg   AND  MAETYBS. 


Bissippi,  ArTcansas  and  Tennessee — now  ffn-ngiiirT^  now 
overawing  tLo  guerillas.   It  was  a  wild  and  iucjtj  life, 
vith  but  little  of  bitterness  in  it;  and  it  is  a  lUet  tliat 
young   McClure  was  never  engaged   in  any  of   the 
pitched  battles  of  the  war.     He  was  appointed  quar- 
termaster sergeant  of  his   company,  ("  L  ")  and  sub- 
sequently quartermaster  sergeant  of  Company  "  B  " 
The  war  ended,  and  the  troops  marched  home.     John's 
regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and 
discliargcd  at  Albany,  N.  Y.     On  a  bright  day,  early 
in  October,  he  walked  into  his  brother's  place  of  busi- 
ness much  the  same  kindly  lad  as  he  was  twenty-two 
months  before,  having  doffed  his  military  gear  at  Al- 
))any,  and  purchased  a  civilian's  dress,  "  more  service- 
able than  elegant."     Again  he  took  up  the  pen,  and 
labored  very  constantly  for  over  a  year. 

The  strength  of  the  Fenian  organization  had  been 
great,  its  hopes  high,  its  disasters  many,  and  in  tho 
Winter  of  '66-Y  it  arrived  at  the  most  ominous  period 
of  its  vicissitudes.     Young  McCliire  never  by  act  or 
word  expressed  any  special  predilection  for  the  move- 
ment, and  it  was  not  until  two  days  before  his  depar- 
ture for  the  British  Isles,  that  his  family  knew  of  his 
determination  to  cast   himself  into  the  breach,  and 
make  one  of  the  forlorn  hope  of  Irish   patriotism. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  he  was  influenced  to  this 
course  by  association  with  some  of  the  Fenian  leaders, 
who  met  together  occasionally  at  the  house  where  he 
resided.     Their  anticipations  were  bright  as  their  de- 
signs were  daring,  and  awoke  the  youth's  susceptible 
spirit  of  adventure.     On  the  18th  day  of  December, 


I 


CEOWLEY,   KELLT   AND  u'cLtJEB.  273 

18CC,  1,0  Bct  sail,  with  i,i3  older  and  moro  cx-nerien,.ed 

Fonian  eomiia.iiona,  for  the  K,.,.,in  „f  I,.i  .1   ■  • 

Umy  amved  at  fJla«g„w,  Scotland,  early  i„  Janu-.rv 

and  seattered  to  different  parts.     iLci.™  wen  '  ^ 

Wa^govv  to  Liverpool,  and  thenee  to  Cork,  from  wl  c^^ 

latter  c.ty  he  wrote  to  his  brother  in  Ne  v  York    Ij 

«-«.  about  the  middle  of  Februar,,  that,  notwi  1 1:,  d- 

ng   he  fadureof  the  i\  B.  in  America  in  ar.nin.  tln.ir 

bro  hers  at  home,  thcj.vove  resolved  to  precinitSo     o 

death-strnggle  for  independence  with  tl  e  sc  n Jm    " 

S;   '  n  •   •^''^  "'■'^  ''PI'""'*'=<i  '«  command    ho 
Middleton  District,  in  Cork  Conuty 

Such  were  tlie  antecedents  of  the  three  gallant  spirits 

hi°r  Wl  "'f '  °^  *'  '"^  ^"'•<''''  Sl^™™  Tuesday,  a 
a  ge  body  of  men,  armed  with  rilles,  guns,  revolvers 

"jed  in  m  lilary  order,  they  proceeded-aceordin.  to 
a  p.;eeoneerted  plan-to  the  Knoekadoon  coastgua,!^ 
station.     Captain  McClure  was  in  command  of  this 

After  sacking  Knoekadoon  coastguard  station  the 
party  proceeded  to  Killeagh.  and  we"re  to  ha™  tin ed 

it^ta^  r,  '™'  ,?^*'-»-*vV  contingents.  'b^I 
nistako-whicli  conld  only  be  accounted  for  by  «,o 
loss  o  their  leader,  Timothy  Daly,  who  was  knLb^ 
the  latter  party  did  not  meet  the  former;  who  tld 
of  waiting,  proceeded  direct  to  the  Tippera.^monntls 
Katm.n,„g  from  the  Galtees,  the   Ballymacod^  Z; 


» 


274 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


••!'»' 


if 


tingent  (which   tenaciously   lield    torrother,   notwith^ 
Btaiiding   Boiuo    detections,  settled  down  in  a  remote 
part   near  Mitclielstown.      Here   in   the  defiles   and 
gorges  of  the  chain  of  mountains  which  extends  beyond 
Fermoy,  towards  Mitclielstown,  the  insurgents  passed 
their  time.    Some  days  before  the  fatal  encounter,  hav- 
mg  been  made  aware  that  the  Waterfurd  flying  column 
were  on  their  trail,  they  changed  their  position,  and 
separated   into   small   knots,   with   a  view   of  being 
better  able  to  elude  the  vigilance  of  their  pursuers.   I^ 
18  stated  that  Crowley  was  in  Cork  the  Thursday  prior 
to  the  affray ;  and  that,  disguised  as  a  carman,  lie  was 
enabled  to  avoid  detection.     We  are  also  told  that  the 
men  had  amj^le  means  of  escape  to  France  or  other 
places,  but,  hidulging  in  the  hope  that  aid  would  come 
sooner  or  later,  they  determined  to  the  last  to  stand  by 
the  cause  Mliich  they  had  embraced,  and  which  they 
were  confident  would  succeed. 

The  exact  circumstances  under  which  Crowley  was 
in  the  wood,  may  not  be  without  interest.     By  pre- 
arrangement,  a  friend  of  his  (who  was  in  full  possession 
of  his  whereabouts  all  through)  was  to  have  met  him 
at  Kilclooney  Wood  on  Sunday,  March  31,  or  follow- 
ing day,  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  him  with  some 
essentials.     Scouts  anxiously  watched,  lest  their  visitor 
should  by  possibility  pass  unseen.     It  is  supposed  that 
they  were  observed,  and  that  information  was  in  the 
meantime  conveyed  to  the  authorities.     Acting  on  this 
or  other  information,  the  resident  ]\ragistrate  of  Mitcli- 
elstown—Mr.  Neale   Browne-collected   the   district 
constabulary,  and  sent  a  requisition  for  the  assistance  of 


f*- 


'ii! 


CEOWLEY,    KELLY   AND  m'oLUBB.  275 

the  County  Waterford  Column.     Tliis  was  composed 
ot  a  troop  of  tlie  Sixth  Carbineers,  two  companies  of 
the  8Lxth  WarwiekHliire  infantry,  some  of  tlie  military 
tram,  and  Royal  Engineers— in  all  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  men— commanded  by  Major  Bell.    Guided 
by  Mr.  Browne,  Mr.  Redmond,  resident  Magistrate  of 
l>ungarvan,  and    Sub-Inspector    Rudge,    the   troops 
reached  the  romantic  valley  of  Aharfoucha  at  day- 
dawn  on  Sunday  morning.     Here  the  collision  took 
place.     Here  Crowley,  Kelly  and   McClure  resisted 
the  combined  forces ;  and  the  military  are  said  to  have 
been  greatly  impressed  by  their  extraordinary  pluck 
and  determination. 

A  stream  flows  through  the  valley  of  Aharloucha 
towards  the  banks  of  which  Kilclooney  Wood  slopes 
down.     Forty  men,  commanded  by  Major  Bell,  sur- 
rounded  it  on  the  south  and  west  sides,  in  skirmishino' 
order ;    the   cavalry  were   posted  higher   up  in   the 
valley,  while  the  constabulary  took  possession  of  the 
Western  Mountain,  and  the  carbineers  surrounded  the 
houses  on  the  east.     The  skirmishers  were  directed  to 
let  no  one  escape  from  the  wood.     One  of  them  per- 
ceiving  a  figure  moving  among  the  trees,  challenged  • 
a  shot  was  the  reply.     The  order  was  then  given  to 
advance  into  the  wood,  and  a  sharp  fusilade   com- 
menced.     Finding   their  hiding-place   thus  invaded 
two  ot  the  Fenians  who  had  been  concealed,  made  a 
i-iish  for  the  river,  firing  rapidly  at  the  soldiers  as 
they  emerged  from  the  trees.     The  military  returned 
the  fire  wit/i  vi^or. 

At  this  moment  Mr.  Redmond  dashed  through  the 


t,. 


27e 


FENIAN   HKIIOKS  tlTH  ttAKrTBM, 


nnl.tary  linos,  under  firo,  \n  pnisutt  of  the  fncrltlvea. 
lie  overtook  Cuptnin  MeClure  as  the  latter  readied 
the    river,    and    .i-rappled   witli    him    from    beliinO. 
AlcCluro  tried  to  shoc^t  Mr.  Ile(hnond  over  his  slioul- 
der,  but  in  doing  so  lie  left  himself  open  to  the  soldiers, 
who  rushed  up  to  bayonet  him.     Mr.  Redmond  com* 
nianded  them  tr.  spare  his  life,  and  just  succeeded  in 
chocking  the  direction  of  an  outstretched  rifle.     The/ 
Btruggled  for  a  short  time  in  the  water,  but  McClurd 
was  soon  overjiowered  by  numbers.     His  companion, 
Crowley,  was  more  unfortunate;  as  he  was  also  jump- 
ing into  the  river,  some  shots  struck  him  and  he  felt 
mortally  wounded.     The  soldiers  plunged  in  after 
him,  and  drew  him  to  the  bank. 

It  was  found  on  examination  that  one  of  the  shott 
had  struck  the  lock  of  his  musket,  breaking  the  third 
finger  of  liis  right  hand,  and  then  rebounded,  making 
a  large  welt  across  his  stomach.  Another  shot  had 
entered  the  middle  of  his  back,  and  passed  out  through 
the  right  axilla.  He  was  laid  on  the  ground,  wlifle 
the  surgeon  tried  to  stanch  the  blood  by  pressure.  Aa 
he  lay  on  the  grass,  with  his  eyes  devoutly  raised  to 
heaven,  few  (says  one  account)  "  could  withhold  an 
expression  of  admiration  and  sympathy  from  one  who 
had,  in  many  respects,  the  qualities  of  a  hero." 

Kelly  was  observed  by  Ensign  Meredith  crouching 
behind  a  ditch,  rifle  in  hand  ;  he  was  summoned  to 
surrender,  and,  seeing  the  uselessness  of  further  re- 
sistance, threw  down  his  gun,  which  was  afterwards 
recognized  as  a  coast-guard's  weapon.  He  had  a 
haversack  containing  a  few  pounds  of  raw  pork,  also 


CRoWtET,  'lucttt  awn  M^cLUPE.  277 

fomo  aTntnnnition.  In  his  p(,ckoM)ook  were  several 
entries,  headed  as  his  ^'journalof  the  eampui-n  ;"  and 
the  hist  entry,  when  five  were  tc-ether,  was  made  on 
the  ah  of  Mareli.  He  had  also  a  {j^reen  silk  fla-,  with 
white  fringe,  n  green  handkerehief.  and  map  of  tlie 
bounty  Corlc,  '  ^ 

An  elevating  fnterest  eontres  on  the  martyr-liero 
farmer  Crowley.      The  priest  was  sent  for,  and   the 
military   surgeon,    Dr.     Sngrue,    wlio   staunched    liis 
wounds,    read    the  last   prayer   from  Crowley's  own 
prayer  book,  whieh  ho  always  carried  about  hi'tn.   Tho 
dying  man  was  conscious  to  the  last.     When  asked 
how  he  was,  he  replied,  "  I  I'eel  better  now— you  were 
about  an  hour  too  early;  if  you  were  an  hour  later  I 
wonld  have  given  you  a  hot  recei)tion,  and  a  very  nice 
morning."     What  ho  intended  to  convey  by  the  re- 
mark  may  not  be  obvious  ;  but  it  was  believed  that  the 
remainder  of  the  pai-ty,  who  were  not  far  off,  had  ap- 
pointed  to  meet  at  Kilclooney  Wood  at  six  o'clock 
that  morning.     Had  they  been  allowed  an  opportunity 
of  concentrating  in  the  plantation  before  the  military 
assembled,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  a  tierce  and 
desperate  encounter  won  Id  have  ensued.     He  hud  been 
conveyed  on  a  litter  to  the  nearest  farm-house,  but  the 
people  not  wishing  him  to  die  there,  he  had  to  be  taken  , 
to  Mitchelstown,  where  he  received  attention  and  spir- 
itual consolation. 

The  last  moments  of  ttie  wonnded  insurgent  were 
most  impressive.  For  half  an  hour  beforl  he  snc- 
cuinbed,  a  clergyman  was  present,  ministering  to  the 
dying  man  the  consolations  of  religion  ;  and  the  rev- 


H^ 


i 


rm 


278 


FENIAN  HEK0E8  AND  MiRTYRS. 


erend  gentleman,  writing  to  a  friend,  describes  liim  in 
the  following  terms:  "Ilia  death  was  most  editying. 
Never  did  I  attend  one  who  made  a  grc.vtei  impres^ 
fiion  upon  me.     He  begged  of  me  to  tell  his  sister  not 
to  be  troubled  because  of  his  death,  which  he  hoped 
would  be  a  happy  one."     The  body  of  the  deceased 
had  been  removed  to  the  workhouse,  and  when  it  be- 
came known  who  it  was,  a  large  crowd  collected  out- 
side the  gate  of  the  union,  and  insisted  upon  getting 
the  remains,  in  order  that  it  miglit  receive  tiie  last 
rites  in  proper  form.     When  the  sister  of  the  deceased 
arrived,  she  had  some  difficulty  in  obtaining  admit- 
tance, owing  to  the  commotion  outside.     The  martyr 
'  was  laid  out  in  his  "  habit  *'  in  the  dead-house,  and  the 
loving  sister  immediately  recognized  her  biother.  Her 
request  to  see  his  clothes  t .  at  he  wore  on  the  fatal 
morning  was  complied  with.     They  were  the  disguise 
which  he  had  worn  in  his  expedition,  and  she  did  not 
identify  f;hem  as  his  own.     The  police  endeavored  to 
detain  them,  but  Miss  Crowley  iiibisted  upon  claiming 
them.     Besides  the  scapulars  which  he  wore,  lie  had 
also  tittached  round  his  neck  a  large  bronze  cruciiix 
and  ahttle  medal,  the  emblems  of  a  Christian  "  order." 
The   crucifix     -as   shattered   in  two  places,    and   the 
medal  w-is   bent,  plainly  indicating   they  had    been 
Btriick   by  bullets.     On   the   chest   of  the  deceased, 
where  the  religious  tokens  had  been  worn,  there  was 
an  Indent  irion  in  the  skin  corresponding  with  the  size 
of  the  medal,   as  if  it  had  violently  pressed  against 
that  part  of  the  breast. 

An  ini^uest  was  held  the  next  day,  and  the  jury,  af- 


!s  liim  in 
Bdi  tying. 
:  impres- 
lister  not 
le  hoped 
deceased 
en  it  be- 
lted Ollt- 

gefting 
the  last 
ieceased 
J  admit- 

martjr 
and  the 
er.  Her 
he  fatal 
disguise 
did  not 
ored  to 
hviming 
lie  had 
criuilix 
order." 
-nd   the 
d    been 
?ceased, 
ere  was 
the  size 
against 


ury,  af- 


OHOWLEY,   KELLY  AKD  m'cLURE.  279 

ter  exhibiting  some  doubt,  as  to  the  right  of  such  a 
large  body  of  men  tiring  on  tlu-ee  fugitives,  ultimately 
returned  a  verdict  of  death  from  the  etfects  of  a  gun- 
shot  wound  intlicted  by  the  military  while  in  the  dis- 
charge  of  their  duty. 

The  funeral  took  place  on   Tuesday,  the  2d  April 
and   awakened   the  strongest   feelings   of  sympathy! 
About  one  hundred  women  and  children,  each  can'y- 
ing  branches  of  laurel,  formed  a  procession  four  deep  • 
then    ollowed  a  scattered   group   of  female  Iriends  • 
next  the  hearse.     The  cofHn  was  strewn  with  branches' 
of  laurel.     The  sister  of  the  patriot  walked  after  the 
cothn  as  chief  mourner,  her  head  covered  with  a  dark 
hood  and  being  supported  by  three  priests.     The  love 
in  which  Crowley  was  held  by  his  neighbors,  and  tlieir 
sympathy  for  his   hero-death,  -v^as   exhibited   by  the 
closing  of  all  the  shops  in  the  town.     At  Fermoy 
durmg  the  interval  that  elapsed  for  resting  the  horsci' 
ttie  phimes  and  hearse  were  decorated  with  ribbons 
and  green  boughs,  and  a  representation  of  the  Irish 
harp  ^v_a8  placed  on  one  of  the  panels  of  the  hearse 
ior  mdes  the  coffin  was  borne  on  men's"  shoulders  •* 
and  It  was  only  when  the  "  shades  of  evening  "  had  • 
la  len,  that  the  corpse  was  placed  in  the  hearse.     The 
lollowmg  day  the  remains  were  removed  from  his  late 
residence  to  the  place  of  interment  at  Ballymacoda 
In  consequence  of^a  request  previously  made  by  the 
relatives^of  the  deceased,  there  was  not  a  renewal  of 
luesdcys  demonstration;  but  the  mournful  procession 
^vhlch  toliowed  the  corpse  expressed  their  sorrow  and 
regret  ior  the  deceased  in  another  and  more  pathetic 


E'» 


1 


280 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MAETVES. 


form.  Among  the  persons  who  attended  the  funeral 
a  hirge  body  of  stalwart,  yet  respectable  young  men, 
were  present.  After  the  burial  requiem  had  been 
chanted,  and  the  prayers  of  the  people  offered  for  the 
soul  of  the  departed,  all  that  was  mortal  of  Peter 
Crowley  was  deposited  in  the  earth,  amid  the  sorrow 
and  weeping  of  some,  and  deep  expressions  of  ven- 
geance from  others. 

Crowley's  comrades,  McClure  and  Kelly,  were  con- 
veyed to  Cork  Jail,  and  were  arraigned  at  the  Special 
Commission  held  in  that  city  on  Monday,  21st  May, 
1867,  by  Chief  Justice  Monaghan,  Justice  Keogh,  and 
Jastice  George.  Their  appearance  in  the  dock  is  thus 
described :  "  The  demeanor  in  court  of  Edward  Kelly, 
as  wel]  as  that  of  Captain  McClure,  was  marked  by 
c*n  air  of  the  most  complete  and  una3sumed  indiffer- 
ence. When  called  on  to  plead,  each  rose  from  his 
Beat,  and  in  a  gentlemanly,  firm  manner,  answered 
"  not  guilty."  Kelly  and  McClure  looked  remarkably 
well,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  the  change  of  scene  from 
the  cell  to  the  dock.  No  one,  looking  at  them  in  a 
casual  way,  would  suspect  them  of  having  taken  a 
part  in  a  most  daring  and  memorable  incident  of  the 
late  insurrection.  They  are  accused  of  being  two  of 
the  three  men  whose  bravery,  wlien  surrounded  by  the 
soldiers  arid  police  in  Kilclooney  Wood,  called  forth 
the  admiration  of  the  military.  The  third  of  that 
brave  trio — Peter  Crowley — was  shot  dead  whilst  at- 
tempting to  cross  the  river  which  outskirts  the  wood, 
liooking  at  the  boyish  ftice  of  Kelly,  and  the  almost 
equally  youthful  and  quiet  countenance  of  McClure, 


t^WlET,   KELtV  a™  m'cLCBB. 


281 

"•ittcdly,  displayed  "  «°<iu.-ance  aa  t%,  ad- 

^ft- p";'  ^iSrr'-  -  induced, 

Consul,  Eastmai,   ™d  Ws  soH  •^'  '"'  "' *<=  ^-  «' 
with   the   "distinct   ,?  sohcitor,  to  plead  gnin. 

giving  security  to  leTv '  'he"  ??'  'f  ''^  ^<^'-^^  «" 
day  Kelly  was'^foundgJu;  On  f,  ''''  *'"  ^=""° 
day,  2fith  May,  they  were  ^t  2.  !  '""''  ''^y-  ^''i- 
of  tlie  Crown  haviLf  ^  l  ""'"''^  *»d,  the  Clerk 
)'ad  a„ythi,rAo  siv  ^,  "■>' ''''^«<'  *^«CIure  if  he 

-^ting  his  'hands  on'tirfr  7-^  't  ""''''  »'^ 
Court  i.  a  lood,  cahn,  „:4:„\;/  ''^f^-ed  the 

".- 'eoi '"ii"  r  ;ir  Lrr-  °'  "•  -'^  '-^  --.ee  or 

make  a  [„  remark,  in  r",ation    f     T"  ""*'  '  """^  «<=»'«  ,o 
«-™ff-ins  people  of  S  ^nf  "^,  "V^«'™  «"  beta,,' „f 
":'"  ""l^vor^  ,o  obtain  the   "ntn,:;;^    """"«  *™  i»  «'■*  ear- 
Although  no,  born  on  the  e^i   ofS  T'  °'  *"*  """^  '»■"!• 
from  history,  and  the  tracUt.^s  of  ft^fl  "^ -^ '""'™'' "«^'  "* 
M'  with  this  countr^.s  nd  IZ  °' *''«™'"*.  ^  became  convert. 

as  the  human  breast  Jossel"  ho,:  roS™'"''' "''"''''°«<1; '"cl 
»eu  feel  for  ».*ring'n.anki:a  j  f*  ^^^^^^^^  -"-h  n.aka 

her  moral  degradation,  and  I  felt  .hit  r  ,1^"  '  ™"e»'  "n"  ''or 
tl.oir  attempt  ,0  right  hose  C,^  '  'L  k'  """  ''^^  P™P"=  ^ 

I  slmli  no.  now  state  to  whTC  j  T!  "  '''''""  *««'«"!"". 
■atomsurreetionary  movement  ZlClT  '""''''"""  <"' "- 
Bot  feel  with  regard  ,0  my  own  condtf  ,  '"T  "  "°"™  '  "» 
the  righteousnes.  of  m»  .reryll!™  .'  '"  '""^  «»''fi«<l  of 


i    I 


<       1 


i 

t. 


282 


PEinAN    HEROES    AND   iLlRTTRS. 


lutionary  movement,  having  bceu  actuated  alone  by  a  holy  desire 
to  assist  in  tlic  emancipation  of  an  enslaved  but  generous  people. 
It  affords  me  more  pleasure  to  have  acted  as  I  have  done  in  behalf 
of  the  Irish  people,  than  any  event  that  has  occun-ed  to  me  during 
my  eventful,  though  youthful  existence.  I  would  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood — and  I  say  it  here  standing  on  the  brink  of 
an  early  grave — that  I  am  no  fillibuster  or  freebooter.  I  came  to 
this  country  with  no  personal  object  to  gain — with  no  desire  to  my 
own  advancement.  I  came  here  solely  out  of  love  of  Ireland  and 
sympathy  for  her  people.  If  I  have  forfeited  my  life  in  having 
done  so,  I  am  ready  to  abide  the  issue.  If  my  devotion  to  an  op- 
pressed people  be  a  crime,  I  am  willing  to  receive  the  penalty  of 
that  crime,  knowing,  as  I  do,  that  what  I  have  done  was  in  behalf 
of  a  people  whose  cause  was  just  and  holy — a  people  who  will  ap- 
preciate and  honor  a  man,  although  he  may  not  be  a  countryman 
of  their  own,  but  still  a  man  who  is  willing  to  suffer  in  defence  of 
that  divine  American  principle — the  right  of  self-government.  I 
would  now  wish  to  tender  to  my  learned  and  eloquent  counsel,  Mr. 
Heron  and  Mr.  Waters,  and  to  my  solicitor,  Mr.  Collins,  my  sin- 
cere and  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  able  manner  in  which  they  have 
conducted  ray  defence.  And  now,  my  lords,  I  trust  I  am  prepared 
to  submit  to  the  penalty  it  will  be  now  the  duty  of  your  lordships 
to  pronounce  upon  me.     I  have  no  more  to  say." 

The  prisoner  then  resumed  liis  seat,  his  firm,  though 
gentle  manner,  the  mild  restrained  enthusiasm  which 
marked  those  parts  of  his  address  which  referred  to 
his  love  of  Ireland,  making  a  aeep  impression  on  his 
audience. 

Edward  Kelly  having  been  asked  in  like  manner  if 
he  had  anything  to  say  why  sentence  of  death  should 
not  be  passed  upon  him,  then  rose  and  rested  his  hands 
on  the  front  of  the  dock.  He  looked  rather  pale,  but 
his  paleness  was  evidently  not  caused  by  trepidation, 
but  by  the  effort  .to  collect  his  ideas.    His  keen,  flash- 


«'OWMT,   KELLY  ^D  M-OLOSE. 


283 

•       "nd  then  they  weTe  rait)  ^  ,'"'"  *'"'  ^^"'""•>^t, 

world  to  wh4  he  w^  "oon  t  k"  "'""*^'"  '°  *'"" 
said:  ^"°"  to  be  consigned.    He 

"My  lords,  the  mveltv  nf  ™„  •.     . 
"f  flu™.  „„e,.„oe,  .If  I  ae"f„r:r  "'"  •"='<'  '''"  »^  «"' 
aocessarily  tedious.     I  tliank  /h.       '^^^  ^°""'  ""'»'S™ce  if  I  am 

aon  to  „e«y,  Which  toTw  L  ur.  ?T """  '■-"■»™-r 

1 10,  What  thatmercy  will  be  rrl  7''  '""'"=<'  '»™i"&  as 
"^enclalio.  wi„  ,ot  be  acceW  1  wf  "*"""  '"«"-;„. 
What  U  death  I  The  state  of  njL  T'^  """""  '  f™''  'I'-H' » 
I  trust  that  God  will  mZnl^Z'J"'"' ',"''  "''°  """  «""">"• 
cause  to  fear  entering  L  pC'ce  of  TV' °"  """  '  ""'  ""^  ™ 
ful  Father.     I  do  not  recofctTv  ™"'  ^"''"^  "-»»'  M^i. 

■^eing  intentionally,  and  t^  'Z'lZZ'""  '"'"""  "  '™"'» 

fear  dcafh.  I  leave  the  dread  of  d™fl,  .  ^,  ™'  '  '"J"'  """■!"  I 
a»  Corydon  and  Mas.,ey.  Con,do„ T'l  """  '^'"'''"""''  "*hes 
eweetness-now  the  .epresSiv  '  „,  T  °°'='=  ""  »«^^«ve  of 
-bere  be  anything  that  eL"  w  o  Con' „"„    f'"™"  "'"*'■•     'f 

Chief  Justice-"  We  are  „  l  •      ,    ?       '  ''''Sedation-" 
cannot  sit  here  and  aliow  ;o?:f  ^^^rj""  ^7-''"""'"e,  but  we 
been  examined  as  witnesses.    S,,M     °   "  "'  ^'"'"'  ™"»  '■"" 
«ay  why  .entenee  should  not  be  paied  uln '?  T  ""  "'"''  '" 
lime  we  are  very  unwilling  t„  l.m  ^     *°"'  ■>"'  «  'he  same 

not  allow  you  .o  cast  impu't   ,     '  "^^^  ■'™'.  but  we  c^ 

others,  whomaybeexa^iuMlXv  '■;?  ""'*''  """-»».  °' 
Pnsoner-"  Well,  as  near  then  as  I ,.™' 
,  ^  nje,  I  shall  say  that,  remenre.  g  ZTJ:  *^  '"'^*''  »- 
England  obtained  a  fo„(i„,,  i„  t,.,,,  "®  'r"'  ^'y  Seneration  since 
nUe-remembering  ,ba,  '  ^  ^elta  bT  "^■™  "■™  "« 
agan,st  the  occupation  of  „„..nalke!oibvF„T  T°  '"  P'"'-" 
-.  .ba.  is  an  answer  to  the  ^ue^tior^Tf  ^ I'lh^  n'„"Z 


284 


FENIAN   HEE0E8  AND  MARTYRS. 


a 


passed  on  me.  In  the  part  I  have  taken  in  the  late  insurrection, 
I  was  only  conscientiously  discharging  my  duty.  Next  to  serving 
th(!  Creator,  I  believe  it  is  man's  solemn  duty  to  serve  his  country. 
[After  a  long  pause  he  continued.]  My  lords,  I  have  no  more  to 
say,  except  to  quote  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  premising  that  you 
will  understand  me  to  speak  of  my  country  as  he  speaks  of  his— 
'If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget  her  cun- 
ning. If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth ;  if  I  prefer  not  Jenisalem  above  my  chief  joy.  Re- 
member, O  Lord,  the  children  of  Edom  in  the  day  of  Jerusalem, 
who  said— Raize  it,  raize  it,  even  to  the  foundation  thereof.  O 
daiigliter  of  Babylon,  who  art  to  be  destroyed,  happy  shall  be  he 
that  rewardeth  thee  as  thou  hast  served  us.'  In  couclusiop,  my 
lords,  I  wish  to  return  my  solicitor,  Mr.  Michael  Joseph  Collins, 
my  thanks  for  his  untiring  exei'tions  in  my  behalf.  To  Mr.  Heron 
also,  I  return  thanks  for  his  able  defence  of  me.  My  lords,  I  have 
no  more  to  say." 

The  prisoner  then  sat  down.  At  that  part  of  his 
address  where  he  referred,  in  terms  so  aprojm,  to  the 
informer,  Corydon,  tlie  soft  and  serene  expression 
which  his  face  hitherto  wore,  changed,  and  his  ejes 
flashed  scornfully  and  wrathfully.  After  the  interrup- 
tion of  the  court,  he  paused  for  a  while,  and  then,  in  a 
voice  of  deep  emotion,  and  with  an  air  of  sudden  in- 
spiration, he  repeated  the  beautiful  words  of  the 
Psalmist,  "  And  his  soul  went  forth  with  them;"  and 
when  he  had  concluded  the  quotation  and  lowered  his 
eyes,  he  appeai-ed  exhausted  from  the  rush  of  thought 
and  feeling  which  the  words  produced.  As  he  repeat- 
ed the  psalm,  the  Chief  Justice  leant  his  head  on  the 
bench  and  appeared  deeply  moved— in.  fact  very  few 
eyes  in  the  court-house  were  dry.  Sentence  of  death 
was  then  pronounced. 


CROWLEY,   KELLY  AND  m'oLURE.  285 

McClure  is  al)out  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height, 
light  and  active,  with  dark  complexion,  and  reserved 
manners.  In  social  life  he  was  generous,  good-natnred 
and  temperate.  As  a  member  of  the  New  York  Mer- 
cantile Library  Association  here,  the  books  he  usually 
applied  for  ^ere  on  military  and  kindred  subjects. 
His  chief  study,  just  before  he  espoused  the  Irish 
cause,  was  "  Campaigns  of  Napoleon,"  and  Doheny's 
Felon's  Track."  '' 

Kelly  is  about  five  feet  six  inches  in  hight.  slio-htly 
but  compactly  built,  with  a  ^ir  complexion,  ovaf  face 
and  ^blue  eyes.     He  was  "  a  swift  and  clean  compos- 
itur,    a  proficient  French  scholar,  and  had  a  habit  of 
insisting  on  everything  being  done  well  and  to  the 
mmute.    Sis  temperament  is  highly  poetical,  and  he 
possesses  considerable  literary  talent.  Among  his  other 
avocations  in  New  York  he  was  writing  a  tragedy 
and  had  it  nearly  completed,  when  his  passion  for  mil' 
itary  knowledge  absorbed  all  his  faculties.     He  was 
brought  up  in  the  Protestant  faith  ;  but  his  joining  his 
comi;ades  in  the  "Rosary  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  "  dur- 
ing  their  lonely  vigils  in  Kilclooney  Wood,  shows  how 
little  he  was  actuated  by  religious  prejudices 


FENIAJS    HEROES   A2<D   MAltTYUS. 


I 


MICHAEL   DOHENY,    GEKEKAL    MICHAEL 

COKCORAN,  JOHJ^  O'MAHONY,  JAMES 
STEPHENS. 

Bar_NaLnai  on  L  .     !!!  London-Writes  for  the  Pre^s-Admltted  tothe 
Cv  «nHVV  u     r     .u°  *•'"  0'CounellMov«ment8-^oln8  Y.ung  Ireland 

SZ;  to  AmS    I  i/^  1 "  n"""-"  f"'  "^''^"-"-^-«P-  to  France  and 
nn        ;°  ^"""^'ca-Life  In  New  York-Hopes  for  Ireland-Death.    Sketch  of 

Exchanrof  P  r  ?  "'  ""''''=°  '°'  "  Privateer-Cabinet  Council  on 

fhtt  Tt  °^'''"~^'^'™**^'--«'«'^t  Ovation-In  the  Field  Ac^ain  wilh 

o^-Dtafh  "'"k^fcf  fi  "^'"'"r '  ''"^^^  I-o'^^-treot-Defence  ofCJ^l' 
his  Pol Uical  c!fecr  n  .""  ^'^^""y-Positiou  in  •48-What  Influer.ced 
ms  roll (ical  Career-Hereditary  !)i8,,ute8  Between  the  OMuhoiivs  and  the 
Ear30fK,ns8ton.-Dca.hofOmhony>Father--LeavingtheFam1?;r^ 
Oufln w  ""^^^'k  '"'"'  °"  "^^  ^^"'^  Question-Sheltls  the  ^oj^nT  S 
t^^h  "^  '.'^  ^^  Savage-The  "  Reaping  of  Moulough  "-Ri.ings  n  S 
tember-Project8  the  ReleaBe  of  OBrien-Perilons Escape-To  Wa]c8-To 

?r8°Chart':fS^D''T  ''^^''^^'^^-"^ 

T«Hrr    if  ?A?   ^     ''^"^""'""^^  *°^"^^t^  O'Brien-Remain,  with  the 

Latter-At  K,  lenanle  and  Ballingarry-On  the  Hills-Escapes  to  France-! 

Oa^fTr     «?'?^'"''"'''^''^-^"^"^««^"'"^i«°'''^y««ciety-0'lroS 
Gaehc  Tutor-Stephens  the  French  Tmnslator  of  Dickens-O'Mahon v  ^es  to 
America-Stephens  to  Mand-Arrested-Repudiates  British  Law  Before  the 
Magistrates-Escape  from  Prison-In  America-Retirement-O'Maiony  dt 
fines  hi8  Present  Position.  ^auuuy  no- 

The  extension,  if  not  the  very  existence  of  modern 
Femanism,  is  indebted  to  the  men  whose  names  head 


DOHENT,   COEOOBAN,  o'mABOITT  4   STEPHENS.      287 

this  cl,ai,ter.     The  existence  of  Irish  disaffection  is  not 
o  vn,g  to  any  one  man,  l,„t  to  the  sufferings  of  many 

that     the  disaffection  of  Ireland  is  immortal."    But 
tliere  ,B  none  the  less  honor  due  to  those  who  comb  „e 
«.gam.e  and  direct  disaffection,  so  that  it  marcope 

l.teclom.     Oi  those  fosterers  of  disaffection,  foundera 
ot  the  Brotherhood  and  propagandists  of  th;  org^^^^ 
at.on,  two  are  m  the  grave,  and  two  in  retirement 
The  memories  of  the  dead  are  eloynent  with  treat 
truths  nobly  spoken,  great  deeds  nobly  done  iTet 
amples  which  cannot  be  buried  with  ftem.  '  f  1  e  1'' 
0   the  livmg  speak  for  themselves.     The  life  and  tr 
v.ces  of  either  of  these  four  men  might    a  Hy T.  dt 
struc  .vely  be  extended  to  a  volume;   but^  brfe 
Bketch  IS  all  that  ean  be  furnished  here.    Being  widelv 
known,  iiowever,  there  is  less  necessity  for  defaU  tim 
in  the  ease  of  othe,^  treated  of  in  this  book 

Die  name  of  Michael  Dolieny  is  intimately  associa- 
ted with  every  movement  suggested  by  the  i  Is  ofll 
country,  or  projected  for  their  amelion.tion.  lor  m  re 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  his  death.  IliriTfe 
wa.  an  evidence  at  onee  of  the  untamoable  natu  e  of 
m  .genoi.  ability,  and  of  the  eares  which  unconqil^. 

tlis  iii,t  twenty  years  were  as  remarkable  in  their  un- 
ettered   throbbings,  as  the  remainder  were  aethe I 

the  rostrum,  at  the  hustings,  in  the  journal  office  I„ 
Iiose  latter  years  he  was  but  putting  into  enei^geti" 

and  eloquent  service  the  visions  and  impulses  that  vis- 


288 


FENIAN   HEROES  AND   MARTYRS. 


Mi  i' 


n  fe: 


itod  liim  at  the  })loiio;b.  Actually,  he  was  an  insi)irod 
pl()u^^h-l)()y."»^  Doheny  boasted  of  the  transition,  was 
l)r()ud  ofalludinf]^  to  his  yotith  ;  and  looking  at  the  po- 
Bition  he  attained,  the  speeches  he  made,  and  the  vari- 
ous writings,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  from  his  accom- 
plished pen,  there  are  none  who  can  deny  the  assiduity 
and  energy  that  must  have  produced  such  results. 

Doheny  was  bcn-n  22d  May,  1805,  at  l^rookhill,  near 
TVthard,  County  of  Tipperary.  His  early  life,  like 
that  of  so  many  eminent  men,  both  dead  and  living— 
who  have  loft  their  deep  track  on  the  road  of  renown, 
like  Jackson  and  Clay,  Webster  and  Douglas,  Corwiu 
and  Lincoln,  and  Andrew  Johnson — was  occupied  in 
labor — learning  those  needs  which  they,  in  after  life,  so 
eloquently  advocated  for  the  masses.  The  son  of  a 
small  farmer,  young  Doheny's  days  were  chicily  spent 
at  the  plough,  not  always  attentively  driving  it,  to  be 
sure,  but  ostensibly  so;  drinking  in  the  memories 
which  every  hill  and  stream,  the  clouds  of  sunshine 
and  shower  overhead,  and  the  gray  ruins  about  him 
presented,  so  typical  of  his  country's  gloom  and  glory. 

His  early  education  was  scanty,  but  a  natural  desire 
for  books,  and  the  unappeascd  hunger  for  knowledge 
which  their  perusal  created,  soon  made  a  suggestive 
foundation  for  the  future  orator,  writer,  and  patriot. 
He  had  closely  approximated  to  the  age  of  manhood 
before  an  opportunity  presented  by  which  he  could 
approach  the  classics.  With  his  usual  energy,  he  at- 
tacked and  captured  Latin  and  Greek  ;  and  fortified 
with  them,  he  graduated  from  the  field  into  the  study 

•  '98  and  M8-p.  847. 


«>.mNT,  concoHAN,  oVa„o«  *  s^,,,,^^.    ^gg 
«9  a  tntoi-  nii,I  w„8  thus  ciiaWcl  t„  s„i;,iif,  i 

tor  «...>o    :|lC   ,2':    "•;'"■••'»«■''.''  •'-'  I-. :  and  aft 

a«  a  Student  oflli      T  *'"'"  "'  ♦''"  temple 

in  London  neltrilv  „    T  ';'•'""  "''"'"«<'  ''"'■ "  ""ng 
i"«  men  who  rXd  &/«''■""  "  T""'' "'  "'« '«'«'' 

public  speaker  flj  hi,n  info       "  '"'"'  P""'*^"  "^  " 

try^f ;?«:',!: ;;;:  t\''  '•«"'™«<' '« '-  -five  co„„. 

OasLel,  he  wlf  ever  1ft      '"'™  '""  ""  """""  <=''^  "'^ 

J'""  "Of  onlya  pTfonf  „;:7-T  "'^  "''''"''''"'  """ie 
"ation.  liver  fhX:  Wfh  ^^fT"'^'  """'  "'  "'« 
I>le,  1.0  became  one  of  tireTnl?  ?'"'«"  "^  '''«  I'oo- 
day,  at  ti.nes  rival  n^  etn  O  c^ t'' *f  "'"^  °''<"- 
tl'o   Catholic   A.,„eKti,n  ?,      ,■     ^"  "'o  days  of 

Slieil  and  Q-Connell  -Z'       7  '*'"''  ^''^  ^'''ol'ard 

t.-i,cl,ant  logic,  «,«";::•  '"Tr"^  '"  •^•^  «-"d  the 
0';y,  the  poeti  a  ;::;"!?  'T'  '!f  l'"l'"'aren- 
I'rinciple,  Jhe  bold  n  ecH  f 'tl  ,  ^r'"^-™"""'^'*^" 
l;ho-to  suit  the  moo^or  .1  ;:« 'T''''-^^  ''I-tro- 
«>e  Klowin,  heart  and  ^r...a:^^St^ 


2d0 


VKSt&JX    UFAioEA   AND  MAUTrUd. 


ITia  pfttriotic  cnor^io;^  expanded  with  the  IncrcnHinji; 
liccortsities  of  the  Uepuul  cuiirie.  lie  vvuh  »>iu)  ot'tliu 
most  ready  uiul  reliable  of  the  <^it'te(l  band  whieh  cir 
clcd"Tho  Liberator"  throu<i;lu)Ut  the  j^reat  Kepeul 
movement;  and  niixin*;  with  the  still  yoim<:;er  blood 
•whieh  infused  itw  paswion  and  pow(M*  into  the  national 
cause,  in  prose  and  verse,  tlirou^h  the  eoiumns  of  tlu? 
JVation  newspa[)er,  eoutribnted  many  ])owerful  and 
timely  essays  and  poems  to  that  then  splendid  o»\t:;au. 

His  prose  writin<!;s  were  eharaeterized  by  a  su<i;f;('st- 
ive  foree  and  simplieity  of  ar«;-ument  wliieh  quickly 
supplied  the  j)opula(^e  with  ready  reasons  for  national 
diseussion  ;  while  his  occasional  poems  breathed  a  lov- 
ing and  strong  elfulgence  of  ijispiration  caught  from 
the  hills  and  vales  of  his  dear  Tipperary.  In  every- 
thing he  then,  or  indeetl  ever,  wrote,  there  was  a  direct, 
unswerving,  hopeful  purpose,  growing  from  or  guiding 
his  intense  and  devoted  love  of  country,  lie  touched 
nothing  but  to  draw  a  lesson  of  perseverance  from  it, 
to  incite  to  noble  passion  in  the  j)ublic  mind,  lie  was 
the  author  of  that  apothegm  which  became  one  of  the 
world-honored  shibboleths  of  the  "Young  Ireland" 
p.^i-ty — "  Educate,  that  you  may  be  fkee  !  "  and  by 
every  means  he  sought  to  iUustrate  the  ennobling  sen- 
timent by  pen  and  tongue. 

In  addition  to  his  constant  labors  in  the  F-anetam 
and  on  the  rostrum,  he  was  a  member  of  the  cciobiured 
'82  Club,  an  active  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Re- 
peal Association,  and  the  important  sub-committees 
to  M'liieh  were  variously  referred  the  questions  of 
liuaTiC*^-:  Parliamentary  duty,  internal  resources,  which 


id  I  cir- 
Kopoul 
I*  blood 
uitioiiiil 
\  of  tlio 
t'ul  tiiul 
[  o''<:;!iii. 

(|iii('l<ly 
liitional 
d  a  lov- 
it  IVoiu 

I  cvery- 

II  direct, 
guiding 
touched 
from  it, 
lie  was 

e  of  the 

rehmd  " 

and  by 

iing  sen- 

■•anotam 
iobiured 
the  Re- 
iiniittei'ri 
ition-s  of 
IS,  which 


nonrav,  comicitAN,  o'M.um^v  4  8TE..,niOT.    201 

Sr;:;;i.:';:;;r ;::-■- « «-'-..... 

'"III  till' n.' It  to  (lirt'cr      Ti.  n,  •"  iH,(,  B|i((.(.|, 

i.Ni,,|M  ,     altiT    the    pivwccution    of   (i'i>  ■ 

jearninjrH  of  h^  k„„i   „      ""„      I*^!*'^'  ^iie  passionate 
J  ^,H  <  I  J118  feoiiJ,  as  well  as  the  endcavoi-H  ..r  i  • 

associates,  have  hoPTi     n<.  *'  .  ^  *^"<'^hvoi8  ot  Ins 

anow-.;,,..,::,  ;;:;:i!r;::;'"'"'""''"^^  -""" 

It  18  not  the  time  for  im  tn  f<ji       i  • 

;;■" "";■«  •"  !■.»,  ij  ,mi,  „  ■' to  n  ™',':,  :;■ 

8tates~hindinL^   •      -^        ,  Jtotnconited 


SSSiSUMB 


i 


< 


292 


fENlAN  fiEEOES  AND  MA11TYR8. 


known  in  politics  <iiid  letters,  as  an  able  spealcer  and 
locturei',  and  otherwise  endeared  liiniselfto  his  friends 
and  many  m^n  of  distinction  by-those  loveal)le  char- 
acteristics of  head  and  heart  which  we  can  but  faintly 
analyze  here. 

Amid  the  many  vicissitudes  surrounding  the  exile, 
Michael  Doheriy  kept  "the  whiteness  of  his  soul." 
The  same  star  that  shone  over  his  hopes  in  Ireland  and 
led  him  into  exile,  was  his  beacon  and  his  glory  in  it. 
His  brain  was  ever  liiuminated  by  it.  It  was  to  him 
the  eternal  and  unquenchable  lamp  in  his  temple  of 
immortality.  The  liopes  and  feelings  which  bent  in 
liomage  to  it,  found  vent  in  participation  in  various 
Irish  societies  and  military  organizations,  and  in  the 
constant  use  of  hio  pen  and  tongue,  whenever  oppor- 
tunity presented  to  expound  or  give  aid  and  comfort 
to  the  darling  projects  of  his  manhood ;  in  all  of  which 
he  was  lovingly  and  enthusiastically  seconded  and  ani- 
mated by  a  devoted  wife,  and  by  a  sister-in  law — now, 
alas,  no  more — to  whose  untiring  solicitude,  under  all 
circumstances  of  his  career,  he  has  left  us  most  touch- 
ing and  ennobling  testimony.  He  was  a  member  of 
every  society  started  in  Kew  York  for  the  dissemina- 
tion of  Irish  principles,  or  the  aid  of  those  who  kept 
alive  the  patriotic  fire  in  Ireland.  His  connection 
Avith  the  Fenian  Brotherhood  has  already  been  noticed. 
His  soul  was  centered  on  it.  It  presented  to  him  a 
])rospect  which  would  more  than  repay  his  life-lonir 
labors — under  every  change  of  fortune — to  the  great 
cause.  But  he  passed  away  before  it  had  assumed  the 
gigantic  proportions  which  set  the  world  wondering. 


«>•"'•-,   COKCO...,  o-^„„„  ^   ^^^^^^        ^^^ 

-"t  a  th.il,  tl..!„„h  tl    l;  '  f:"?f  «'•  '-  decc;.e 
inends,  as  well  as  S,e  com'".        ,"  """"'"''''^  «"<1 
»»'  yet,  even  after  five  "'"    /  ^  "'  ^^'S"'  ^^""^^  !'«« 
a  ealm  comprehension  oi  tt;  ;'"  "'"'f  "'•'^'' "^"^^  '» 
:vl.o  knew  and  loved  him  Z      T'*"^  *''"'■    ^''ose 
'"  his  faith,  can  scareeT;  vet        r   ''"'  ""■''  ''"I- 
I^ol'^yis  no  more-thtf  t L  ,        "'  ''""  ^''-''"'^^ 
q«ent  to„g«,,  ,,j,;,,,  once  in   •  '?!r^'  "'"'«^  ^"^'  «'»- 

vithm  our  circle  to  cnlive"  u     v  ^  ?"  ""  "'""'^  ^'"'"^ 
"^""ifi-eminiscences,  and  "xaU  T        ",'  """"""  ""d 
Pofes  in  which  he  alone  lived      "'"','''« ''«'y  P"'- 
^<""g-    Boheny  was  one  of  .f'      "'''''''  '»«'  I'ad  a 
">-.  whose  de^ar're    0   th?"  'T'^"'^-''  "--^y 
•■"ely  permit  onrselves  to  thW- of    '"'T^  '""'l"  -e 
»"•   .1"  Ws  h>st„nce,  the  lo      a„d^.ff  "!  '  '<^^^  '"  "well 
and  mnocence  of  heart  inst, vC^  f "''"»"  ''^  P'-'-'tK 

Eichard  O'Gorman,  John  S,  ^^  "''"  ^''^hhjy' 
liavanagh,  Patrick  b'l)'!  .  >  f '  ^^'P'"'"  J-./in 
"^■•^^'iV-ciatesinir     '"^'"  ^^"S'-.  whl 


I 


294 


if 


^ 


^^mm  HEH0B8  A.^  „^^^„,_ 


to  the  faith  of  the  Irii;^''''  "''''''  *"""'"'"■«  ^""^ion 
chad  Corcoran.     "At  ft  if  ''^P-'e^'ented  by  Mi- 

^aid,  "was  the  nobt  IIh'',    f'' ^"'^  "'"H"'"' 
'ant  officer,  to  wl.om    7™!  ^f  .r't'  ""'  ^^'■ 
W.3  due-a   descendant  Tt     °^  "^ ''ft<''--d>»acter 
ilJustrioua   Irish   soldier    P.,  •',  '^^""'^  ''"^  "^  t^at 
tnean,  whose  name    s  idrnr«1   ^^''^'^'^'  ^"I   of 
I'-Wek,  and  whT ta, '  tit' aT'!     f  f'^^"^  '^^ 
bnsade  upon  the  Moody  le  d  ff  t  *''f  ''""1  "*'  t'"' 
Colonel  Corcoran  ,•=  .  ,  I-anden.     #    •    » 

Southern  retaliat In  but  T'7,  '"'  '^^-S^^"! 
doling  that  he  owes  his  "ad  b  ^  '^'^''^^^^tion  of 
to  having  acted  as  be  le\  i       ^T^  P-'e-eminence 

made  Sar^field  im,„„,t^,  ^^^  f^  I^"ner,ct_which 
^•ere  not  without  a  reprise  L  °"''7^"  ^  "f  Shgo 
•nuseofCarolan     InT'T      ^^  '^'"'  '^Pi'-^d  tha 

f-n  the  Irish,  comCncrnl''  '°""'  "  ^"^"'^  -"S     ^ 
O'Corcoran.  thv  fimt-  >.«  v     • 

in  honor  of  one  of  tlie  lieroes  of  f]..f  .         , 
as    Corcoran,  ,n    offieei  Tn  ^f      t  '  :"^^^^-     '^^<>^ 
tnnied  from  the  M^,,,  Incl^^s  ard^"''-^'    "''^'"'^  '^ 
^'^^H^J,  was,  in  t]ie  ycni  IS04  ^"^  ^'^^"'^^  «« 

HeDono^rh      Of  tin'.  '  ^^vn^d  to  Hiss  JVfarv 

2l8t  September,  1827,  at  Ca^ 


!    . 


s^  Brigade,  and 
d  to  the  "  Old 
niching  allusion 
•esented  by  Mi- 
(tlie  69thj,»  ho 
irited  and  gal- 

after-cliaracter 

e  line  of  that 

'field,  Earl   of 

the  siege  of 

e  head  of  his 
len.     *    #    « 

lis  of  a  rebel 

^r  revengeful 

satisfaction  of 

pre-eminence 

3f  Sarsiield.'* 

3rick-~which 
'^'s  of  Sligo 

inspired  the 
of  the  iHs^ 
heaxty  song 


i 


P 


■i 


<:■  ■.      <i^. 


''■*■'- 


lim,** 

le.  Thon> 
service,  re- 
I'etired  on 
^iss  Mavy 
Corcoran, 
^,  at  Caiw 


m^^ 


'  ,y 


m     I 


Via. 


f.'Ml( 


l: :. 


'OuIy-Wade-i 


r-; 


Jvhh 


>    •* 


i<     .  • 


I  it  t     t 


ht 


■';>a    ui(* 


'^''■^^  ^^^'t  proiid  |. 


•     .      I 


•       .       .        '1'* 


•        J. 


'  '      I      *        -♦.<.' 


I'-; 


'!.U 


.  .'0        Kl( 


I 


.1 


■      .      •       '1'.* 


M    >, 


>,  * 


.' 


<f 


»t;otan  nmoE3  Am  MAnrras,  295 

mvfeol  !n  the  Oo„„ty  of  Sl,>.    After  rcceivin-.  .„ 

J  isl.  Constabulai-y   establishn,ent-resi,4d  tins     o 
■  ,  ^    on    and    emigrated  to  An^e.-ica  in  im.     G  t    d 

TJie  military  career  of  Corcoran  may  be  dat^d  f,. 
l'..s  entrance  into  the  69th  Kcgiment,  N  Y  g  m'"^ 

trtted  :^.t  .-■'.'■r  '^-'^  -'^'eW^ 

r,"'t^iiea  by  early  aisciplme,  developer]    nn^  i 
Dccanie  Orderly  8o7-«rpnnf   t-     ^       ^^veiupea,  and  he 

Which  Posuion\,tXhi  :rsrji;::T^  -■- 

General's  iep,^tUd  ,"""'"*'  ""'^  "'"  ^"^P^'«- 

ins  Company  A  aTt!  1      *  ?■"  ^°'''=°™"'  command- 
not.  addT'ht'  lit  :^r  ""'^^'^'^^,  would 

among  the  best,  if  nte'veT:  it  ::^'  'V'^''  » 
the  first  division."  On "5  iV  A  .  ?* '""'""'^  ™ 
Corcoran  was  elected  CoS  ^T'  '''''  «^P'-" 
from  that  time  his  name  an  '  hat  ofMT  R?-'  "' 
were  synonymous     Tl.o  f,  "egimcnt 

the  whole  eoTnt  T  on    he  •"  ^"l  ''™"S'"  before 

I-Mnce  of  WatZto  ^1"°  "c'"'  ""'  5  "'« 
^.."Pathized  with  the  cause  o/'Lh  kShJ^ 


i 


'¥ 


rf ""  it 


m 


20G      DOIIENY,   CORCORAN,  oVaHONT   i^   STEPHENS. 

was  the  prisonal  frioiul  of  Bf.voval  of  tlio  cxlloa  ^v^lO 
were  in-o.uin.nt  i.i  ^48,  and,  last-not  Icast-waB  ono 
ofthcfouiulerHof  tliO  Fcniau  Urothorborxl.     Ho  c  c- 
clinod  to  parade  the  IviBh-boni  citi/ons  under  liis  irnli- 
tary  conunaud,  to  do  honor  to  the  b*.u  of  a  Sovereign 
under  whose  rule  and  in  wliosc  name  the  best  men  raised 
in  Irehmd  for  half  a  century  were  banished.     He  was 
consistent  with  the  heroes  with  whom  tradition  associ- 
ated his  blood,  not  less  than  with  the  corps  he  com- 
man<led;  his  own  theories,  and  the  principles  ot  tho 
•  Brotherhood  he  souo;ht  to  extend.    This  action  brou^dit 
Corcoran  under  considerable  censure  and  a  court-mar- 
tial; but  there  was  a  speedy  clia.i^^e  in  the  opimon  of 
those  who  thouj^ht  the  ruthless  conduct  ot  Grea   bntam 
to  tho  Union  durino;  the  war  a  base  requital  lor  tho 
hospitality  extended  to  the  heir-apparent. 

Colonel  Corcoran's  action  at  the  breakino;  out  of  tho 
Rebellion   was   quite   characteristic   of  his  patriotic 
character.     His  unselHsh  and  upright  course  was  one 
of  the  most  severe  blows  the  sy mpalhize.-s  with  -eess.on 
in  the  North  received.    Many  of  the  othcers  ot  tl;e  G9  1 
.  were  doubtful  of  tlie  propriety  of  "  turning  out     while 
their  Colonel  was  undergoing  a  court-m.u'tial  for  an 
act  which  they  justitied.     Lnmediately,  Corcoran,  ,n 
a  publicletter,  implored  them   not  to  take  hnn  into 
any  account,  brt  to  stand  by  the  flag  ol  the  Umou 
and  the  sacred  principles  involved  m  its  sustamment 
The  court-martial  was  quashed  ;  the  Umon  sentiment 
of  tbc  IriBh  rushed  like  a  torrent  into  the  ranks  ot   he 
army  ;  and  the  69th  left  for  the  seat  ot  war,  attended 
by  one  of  the  greatest  demonstrations  recorded  m  the 
history  of  New  York. 


PKNIAN    HEIIOE8   AND   MARTYRS.  207 

^  Tn  tlio  pron.,.0^3  of  tho  ard.iouB  labors  n^^hmc<]   to 
MB  corrm..uwl   Colonol  Coroorun  won  tho  ostcom  <,f  tho 

ho  Jn.tcd  States  ofKooPB  with  whom  ho  co..,,e..ato<l. 
As  the  bulwark  and  .,mnt.;arde  of  tho  briptdo,  hav- 

ng  in  spoc.al  chari.0  tho  dofonoo  of  tho  principal  avo- 
mu3S  roni  V.rp-nia  into  Washington,  tho  G<Jth  w<.ri 
enduring  h.>nors.  All  through  its  so;vice-at  AnL' 
poliH,  along  tho  radroad  to  tho  Junction  ;  at  Geor,.. 

tovvn  ;  durnig  the  buihiing  of  l^rt  CVu-coran-a  namo 
conlorrod  by  tho  War  De,>artuu.nt-along  Arlington 
He.ghts;    at   tho  roliof  of  tho  Ohio   troops    at    tho 
radroad  near  Vionna;    tho  various  midnight  alarms 
and    preparations    in    and    out    of    camp ;    and  tho 
8ubsc.juont     movements    at    Centroville,    ending    at 
the   battle   of   Bull   Ituu-tho    indomit^lblo    Coh>nel 
gave   h.3    regiment    unceasing  examples   of  counu^o 
and    patr,otism.      Ho   greatly  distinguished   Inmself 
at    Lull    Run,   and   wo    believe   was   the   only   ono 
othcially  chronicled  (see  General  Sherman's    /enort) 
as  having  brought  his  ivgiment  off  the  field  in  a'hol- 
iow  square.-^     In  this  duty  Corcoran  was  wounded    ' 
and  soon  after  captured.     For  some  time  ho  was  pri! 
soner  m  Richmond ;  afterwards  at  Castle  Pincknev 
Charleston  Imrbor ;  and  in  anticipation  of  an  assault 
by  the  Port  Royal  expedition,  he  was  removed  to  Co- 
lumbia,  in  tho  interior  of  South  Carolina.     Soon  after 
his  capture,  he  was  offered  liberation  on  condition  that 
he  would  not  again  take  up  arms.     Indignantly  repel- 

*  SCO  "Notable  Men  of  tho  Time,"  &c.,  2d  Edition;  Franlj  Moore   N  Y 
G.  P.  Putnam;  from  which  this  sketch  is  condensed.  * 


t 


■'w- 


I* 


I 


II 


f 


•     f! 


298      DOnENT,   CORCORAN,  o'MAnONY   A  STEPnENfl. 

UnjT  the  overture,  ho  avowed  liiB  faith  in  the  Union, 
and  dochired  he  wonhl  take  up  arms  just  as  s  'on  as 
cn-cunistances  would  ])crinit. 

Upon  CoU)nel  (Corcoran,  j)rohably  more  than  on  any 
other  of  the  Union  prisoners,  was   public   attention 
fixed  at  that  tiuie.     The  announcement  that  ho  was 
chosen  as  one  of  the  hostages  for  the  Gafety  of  the 
privateers,  condemned  to  death  as  pirates,  sent  an  in- 
dignant thrill  of  pity  and  shame  throughout  the  North,^ 
and  iixed  more  intently  and  impatiently  tlic  minds  of 
thiiddng  men  on  the  8ub;ect  of  a  general  exchange  of 
orisoners  ;   and  a  connnission,   composed   of   llirani 
Barney,  Esq.,   Collector  of  I^ew  York,   Judge  Daly, 
and  Messrs.   Richard  O'Gorman   and   John   Savage, 
Esqs.,  was  induced  to  proceed  to  AVashington  to  con- 
fer with  the  Cabinet  and  Congress  on  the  immediato 
and    humane  necessity  of   such  a  proceeding.     For 
several   days  the  Committee  were  actively  engaged 
canvassing  tiie  leading  minds  at  the  seat  of  Govern- 
ment, and  on  the  lOth  December,  they  were  invited 
by  the  President  to  attend   a  full  Cabinet  council. 
Their  efforts  were  satisfactory  in  an  eminent  degree.* 
In  August,  1802,  Colonel  Corcoran  was  exchanged, 
and  immediately  commissioned  by  President  Lincoln 
as  Brigadier  General,  to  date  from  the  day  of  his  cap- 
ture.    The  progress  of  Corcoran  from  prison  to  New 
York,  through  camps,  cities  and  towns,  was  a  brilliant 
and  marvelous  ovation,  and  served  only  to  bring  out 
more  fully  the  dignity  of  his  character,  and  to  develop 
his  dormant  talents  in  a  very  remarkable  manner. 

*  "  iJotable  Men,"  &c,,  p.  5^, 


•SP' 


FENIAN   TTEnOES   AND  MAnTTRS.  200 

ITI^  B]W(Oi(vs  in  ro|)lj  to  ninnIoi].al  nddi-osfios  and  pop- 
ular outhui-f^ts,  aMnictcd  iiiiivtT.sul  adciition  to  him  us 
a  i.iun  of  iH'oiiipt  tliounlitBtiiid  folicitiou8  cxprn^sion, 
as  well  as  of  uiillinohin.ir  oonrn^^o  and  decinivo  action.  * 
Iiinnodiately  entoriiig  on  Lis  now  duties,  ho  recniir'-d 
and  orgunizcd  the  famous  "  Irish  Locrion,"  and  was  in 
the  iield  by  tho  middle  of  Novond)or,   ro})ortin"-  to 
]\rajor  General  J3ix  at  Fortress  Monroe.     He  innne- 
diatoly  encamped  at  Newjmrt  News,  and  towards  the 
end  of  Decinnher  ])roceeded  to  Suff'olk.     In  January 
General  Corcoran,  in  comniaiid  of  several  details  from 
the  various  regiments  of  the  division,  was  sent  to  check 
a  movement  of  the  rebels,  under  Cieneral  Pry  or,  across^'' 
the  r»laclvwater.     At  four  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th,  tlie  troops  structk  the  enemy  near  a  deserted 
house,  from  which  the  light  tliat  onsue<l  took  its  name. 
Ihe  rebels  were  repulsed,  and  the  General  command- 
ing, JMajor-Gencral  Peck,  issued  the  following  order: 

"TTeadqtjartkrs,  Suffolk.  Va.,  Feb.  6,  ]863. 
*Tlie  commanding  General  desii-es  vo  thank  Bri-adier  General 
Corcoran  and  the  troops  assigned  to  his  conmumd,'  for  Iheir  cro.^d 
conduct  and  gallant  bearing  in  tho  engagement  of  the;  ;50th  Jan- 
uary,  1803,  at  Deserted  House,  which  resulted  in  drivhig  the  enemv 
to  the  Blaekvvater. "  -=  j 

In  April  Longstreet  and  ITill  invested  Snifolk  with 
over  thirty  tluHisund  men.  During  this  seige  General 
Corcoran,  who  had  been  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  iirst  division  of  the  Seventh  Corps,  made  a  i-econ- 

u.iH^r'*'!"-"?"'"'^^^'^*^''''  "'^'l'-'"'"''*'- «"^  especially  Mb  corroBromlnu.o 
w>th  tmu  Jam.«  B.  Kirker.  auci  other  fiends  portions  of  which  have  ouni 
their  way  into  print,  will  br  collected  and  give,,   o  niB  countrymen  enth^ 


^ 


300      DOriENV,   CORCORAN,  o'mAIIONY    &   BTEPIIENg. 


noisnneo,  with  nhoiit  fivo  tlioumiul  men,  to  fiii<l  out 
the  posiHon  and  Bti'cnj;'th  of  tlio  oiKMiiy,  aiitl  had  a 
brisk  (Miga<5enient  on  tlio  K<lenton  Koud,  imcovuriiij^ 
tlio  enemy's  position  and  driving  him  from  tlio  breast- 
works. This  galhmtry  a«j;ain  drew  fortii  tlio  specMal 
congratulation  of  the  l)ei)artiiient  Commander.  In 
conseciuenco  of  the  <lisal)ility  of  General  I'eek,  who 
was  c<mtined  to  his  bed,  the  chief  command  devolved 
on  General  Corcoran,  who  com[)letely  hailled  Long- 
street,  who  raised  the  siege  after  a  inontirs  vain  efforts, 
and  after  the  raisinir  of  most  extensive  works  to  eifect  his 
object.  The  rebels  driven  over  the  Blackwator,  Long- 
street  being  comi)elled  to  retire,  the  evacuation  of 
Sutfolk  was  decided  on  ;  and  the  inqjortant  duty  wa3 
assiirned  to  Corcoran,  lie  was  now  placed  in  com- 
mand  of  the  defences  of  Portsmouth ;  thence  to  the 
Department  of  Washington,  and  assigned  an  import- 
ant position  for  the  defence  of  the  Capital.  His  head- 
quarters were  at  Centreville,  and  subsequently  at 
Fairfax  Court  [louse,  where  occurred  the  sad  accident 
which  deprived  (on  22d  December,  18(53,)  the  army  of 
the  Union  of  one  of  its  most  devoted  oilicers,  and  tho 
future  army  of  Ireland  of  an  efUcicMit  leader,  who 
hoped  to  culminate  his  military  career  on  an  Irish 
battle-field  for  Irish  rights. 

General  Corcoran  was,  as  stated,  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  Fenian  Ih'otherhood,  and  through  the  days 
of  its  trials  one  of  its  most  ho[)efiil  workers,  lie  saw 
it  spread  to  be  a  power,  to  vindicate  Its  military  chnr- 
'acter  on  the  field  for  republican  liberty  and  the  Irish 
name  J  was  ono  of  tho   Central   Council,   and  gavo 


9 


ill  I 


FENIAN   lIEltOES  AND  MAUTYRS. 


801 


ev.ry  facility  to  exten.l  it.  runiificatioM^  tlu-un..].  tlio 
ann.v,  so  thut  tl.o  b.st  nnd  l.ruvost  noldiurs  might  bo 
enlisted  ill  tho  cuiKso  80  dear  to  Ids  Jioart. 

On  tho  bank,  of  tho  Snir,  at  a  placo  called  Mnl- 
<>"«h,.n  tho  County  Tippomry,  there  lived,  in  the 
b^^-nn.n.  o    '48,  a  ^entlen.an  fUr.ner  of  a.nple  means 
and    horon^^h  edueat.on,  of  unassuming  manners  and 
c  ovoted  pa  riofsn.,  in  whoso  warm  so.rthern  nature  a 
deep  knowle,li;e  of  the  ancient  Celtic  ton<.uo  and  mis- 
lortunes  broode.l  and  tinet  with  a  nih-nt  hut  lofty  ven- 
entt.on    and   enthusiasm,  the  hopes   and   aspirations 
wh.eh   at   the   period   n.anifested   themselves   in  tho 
loun-  Ireland  party-who,  in  a  word,  was  a  "  rebel-" 
apure-souled,hi,i.h-hcarted,  oourai^eous,  and  in  his  diV 
tnet-wh.eh  encompassed  the  counties  of  Tipperary, 
Waterford,  and  K.llcen,.v-most  powerful  rebel      His 
name  was  John  O'Mahony.  * 

O'Mahony  was  born  at  Clonkilla,  a  lovely  spot  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Funcheon,  as  it  flows  out  of 
JMitehelstown  demesne,  and  reared  at  JCiibenny  with 
which  the  pleasantest  associations  of  his  early  life  are 
connected.  With  it  also  are  connected  memories 
w  u(,h  are  deeply  and  intensely  reflected  in  his  politi- 
ca.  career.  Kilbenny  had  been  the  first  restincr  phice 
ot  the  branch  of  the  O'Mahony's  which  settled'in  the 
noi-hborhood.  They  held  it  of  the  Earls  of  Kinc.- 
ston;  who  in  turn  held  Clonkilla  of  the  O'Mahony''^ 
Their  families  were  hereditary  and  bitter  enemies,  and 

*  '98  and  '48»  pp  352-3. 


• 


302      DOHENY,   COEGOEAN,  o'mAHONT   A   STEPHENS. 

on  tlie  death  of  John  O'Mahony's  father,  who  had 
been  a  powerful  Nationahst,  and  with  whom  the  lease 
of  Xilbenny  expired,  the  iiat  went  forth  that  the 
O'Mahony's  should  be  exterminated,  as  there  could 
not  be  "two  lords"  in  that  neighborhood.  To  be 
thus  compelled  to  leave  the  hearth  which  had  become 
sacred  by  family  associations,  at  the  will  of  an  upstart 
Saxon  lord,  was  like  tearing  out  the  heart  of  O'Maho- 
ny.  It  was  in  1840,  while  pacing  for  the  last  time 
the  deserted  rooms  of  the  old  house,  which  still  stands 
over  the  weird  town  Loch-na-Anna,  that  John  O'Ma- 
hony  iir£t  conceived  those  ideas  on  the  Irish  Land 
question,  which  he  has  since  brooded  over  and  advo- 
cated until  they  have  become  a  distinguishing  charac- 
teristic of  Fenianism.  He  learned  to  feel  for  the 
other  victims  of  the  Irish  Land  law  by  the  poignancy 
of  his  own  grief  and  indignation.  Against  such 
wrongs  he  did  not  see  the  use  of  what  was  called 
"  Constitutional  agitation  ;"  and  it  was  not  until  he 
saw  the  young  Irelanders  about  to  take  the  held  that 
he  exerted  the  influence  which  his  family  wrongs  and 
his  associations  with  the  people  gave  liim. 

When  the  leaders  took  "to  the  hills,"  he  succored, 
aided,  and  cheered  them,  and  when  they  were  arrest- 
ed, wandering  outlawed  througli  the  island,  or  seeking 
the  shores  of  America  and  France,  O'Mahony  still 
brooded  over  the  wrongs  and  sorrows  of  the  fatherhind. 
He  could  not  leave  his  native  hills.  He  looked  down 
the  golden  valley  of  the  Suir,  and  said,  as  Cromwell 
said  when  gloating  over  the  same  scene,  "  This  is  a 
country  worth  fighting  for."     Looking   for  O'Brien 


FENIAN   HEE0E8  AND  MARTTES. 


303 


and  Meai^her,  John  Savac^e  met  O'Maliony,  and  tliey 
remained  togetlier,  organizing  the  coiintiy  while  any 
hope  remained.      Dolienj  says,    "  tlicy   spent   many 
anxious  nights  in  omnel  together,  when  it  was  sup- 
posed all  spirit  had  left  tlie  country.     The  first  os- 
tensible object  that  brought  the  people  together  under 
theirimmediate  guidance  and  control,  was  the  reap- 
ing of  a  field  of  wheat  belonging  to  O'Mahony.     A 
vast  crowd,   amounting  to  several  hundred  stalwart 
men,  assembled.     They  had  scarcely  entered  on  their 
labor  when  the  approach  of  a  troop  of  horse  was  an- 
nounced.     O'Mahony  and  Savage  were  compelled  to 
retire.     The  military  cavalcade  rode  through  the  peo- 
pie  and  the  corn,  but  the  reapers  desisted  not,  giving 
no  pretext  for  any  arrests  or  further  outrage  from  the 
soldiers."*     The  time  for  defiance  and  resistance  was 
yet  some  weeks  ahead.     Savage  at  once  threw  the  in- 
epiritmg  scene  into  the  following  verses,  to  a  popular 
air  • 

THE   REAPING  OF  MOULOUGH. 

^i>— "  Irish  Molly  O." 
If  Nature  gave  to  human  life  a  centuried  length  of  years 
And  with  them  gave  the  strength  of  mind  for  which'  age  only 

ril  bless  that  glorious  harvest-day,  and  chronicle  the  date 

For  'tis  a  smile  'midst  mem'ry's  tears  for  sorrowed  'Forty-eight. 

From  far  and  wide  the  Reapers  came,  through  love  our  cause  they 
bore,  -^ 

From  Commeragh's  wild  to  GUevenamon-from  Grange  to  Galtee- 
more ; 

•  Dohenv'8  "  Felon's  Track,"  p.  157^.  » 


n  < 


f 


I '  J I 


li 


U: 


m 


v\ 


804      POllKNV,   CORCORAN,  o'mAIIONV   &    STIIPIIENS. 

liikd  stroiiinl(^tH  malilnp;  to  tlio  scft,  liko  wrcclcM  men  t"o  a  rock, 
Tlu-y  limruHl  down,  iiiul  guthorcd  at  tlio  lloapiiig  of  Moulough. 

God  bless  the  sturdy  ili'iip^'i's  '  and  God  bless  llio  mind  lliat,  gave 
The  thoughl,  lliat,  made  their  sinews  aid  and  help  the  outlawed 

bravc!  1 
The  minds  that  live  in  noble  deeds,  all  carlh-mado  vauntera  mock. 
And  souls  like  yours  are  Freedom's  hope,  yo  Reapers  of  Mou- 
lough I 

Oh  1  bond  the  R(>apcrs  joyfully  1— the  hook  with  fervor  plies, 
And  maidens  of  tlie  sminy  soutli  bind  up  the  falling  prize  1 
Oh  I  may  the  tyrants  of  our  soil  ho  fall  before  our  wrath. 
And  wives  of  Irish  victors  aid  to  bind  them  in  their  path  I 

Bright  thoughts  of  Freedom  'woke  my  mind,  as  bound  was  stook 

and  sheaf; 
There  thousands  not  loss  noble  souls  aroujid  the  nobk;  Chief, 
And  eager  waited  but  the  word  to  make  ea(!h  stook  a  rock- 
To  plant  the  Flag  of  Freedom  at  the  Reaping  of  Moulough  1 

The  orgJinization  of  tlic  disaifectod  districts  resulted 
in  the  iiisiirroctioiiiiry  moveiiicnts  in  Tii)perai7  and 
AVaterford,  which  couuiieneed  on  the  12th  Septem- 
ber. O'Mahony,  hy  a  series  of  really  startlin*^  adven- 
tures, eluded  the  vigilance  of  the  police,  lie  was  in 
Olonmel  during  the  trial  of  O'Brien,  organizing  a 
force  to  attacli  the  Court  House,  when  he  was  dis- 
covered, and  saved  himself  by  heaping  from  a  back 
window.  He  ultinuitely  escaped  from  Island  Castle, 
between  Bonmahon  and  Dungarvan,  in  the  County 
AVaterford,  in  a  collier,  and  was  laiuled  in  AVales, 
where  he  remained  for  six  weeks,  until  an  oi)i)ortunity 
offered  tor  his  conveyance  to  France.  He  resided  in 
Paris  for  five  years. 


FENIAN  HEB0E8   AND  MAETTRS. 


305 


James  Stephens  is  a  native  of  tlic  City  of  Kilkcnnv 
ZtV'''  T'"''"'''^'  ^''""'"  '"rty-tl'ree  and  forty! 
fZ.l,T7        '^•-    ""  '•'^™'^«<^  "  g-d  education, 

^^a8byJ„•oesE.on  a  surveyor  and  civil  engineer  and 
durmg  tl,e  latter  years  of  O'Connell's  repeal  a^ h^tion 
he  was  engaged  ou  the  groat  Southern  and  Wste™ 
Radway  works,  at  Inchieore,  Dublin.  About  tli! 
mo  pol,t,es  connneneed  to  throw  their  fascination  o 

clubs  In  the  early  part  of '4S  his  professional  duties 
brought  h„n  from  Dublin  to  Thurles,  in  the  Co  1 
of  1  pperary,  and  in  the  S.unuier  he  took  advantage 

While    m    Iv.lkenny  an    incident    occurred    which 

changed  the  whole  current  of  his  life-that  was    he 

an-est  m  that  city  of  Mr.  Patrick  O'Donohoe  wl 

was  entrusted  with  dispatches  from  Dublin  to  Mr 

,,'™"'  ^  J^"  P''"'='^«dcd  on  his  mission  to  Kilken! 

clubs.    He  was  known  to  none  of  the  members  and 
became  at  once  the  object  of  suspicion.     It  \va7 
accordmgly,  determined  to  send  him  the  rest  of  his 
journey  under  arrest,  and  Stephens  and  another  mem- 
ber were  appointed  to  that  duty.     They  proceeded  To 
Cashel,  w  ere  Mr  O'Donohoe  was  wa,Uy  welcomed 
by  M..  O  Bneu  whose  fate  he  thenceforth  determined 
to  share.    Mr.  Stephens  came  to  the  same  resolution  • 
but  the  other  guard  refused  to  commit  himself  to  for-' 
tunes  wluch  apposed  so  desperate.     With  Messrs 

btepheus  and  O'jJonohop  tl,;«  «„,.,.  ^ ».-..  ,' 

— ...  ,^^j  wcB^ciauoa  acted 


306 


DOIIENT,   CORCORAN,  o'mAHONY   A   STEPHENS. 


if 


as  the  most  ennoblin-  and  irresistible  iiiducemf  nt. 
Tliey  clung  to  him  to  the  last,  with  a  fidelity  the  more 
nntirinj;  in  proportion  as  the  circumstanees  povtended 
immine"it  disaster  and  ruin."  *    AH  through  O'Brien  9 
movements  Stephens  exhibited  an  earnestness  which 
won  the  approval  of  all  who  witnessed  it.     At  Killui- 
aule  when  O'Brien's  party  threw  up  some  barricades 
to  intercept  the  passage  of  a  troop  of  dragoons,  young 
Stephens  suddenly  raised  his  rifle  and  covered  the 
oflicer  in  command ;  his  finger  was  on   the  trigger. 
«  One  moment,"  says  Mitchel,  "  and  Ireland  was  in 
insurrection."     Dillon  sternly  ordered  him  to  lower 
his  rifle,  and  the  oflicer,  pledging  his  honor  he  was  not 
seeking  the  arrest  of  O'Brien,  was  led  through  by 
Dillon  himself.     At  the  Ballingarry  afl'air,  Stephens, 
with  McManus,  and  the  late  Captain  John  Kavanaugh 
of  the  Irish  Brigade,!  was  clear-sighted  an     efficient 
After   the  failure  of  O'Brien's  movement,  he   had 
many  adventures  with  O'Mahony  and  Dohcny,  and 
finally  escaped  to  France. 

At  this  period,  the  Continent  of  Europe  generally, 
and  Paris  particularly,  was  inwoven  with  a  network 
of  secret  political  societies,  at  once  the  terror  and  the 
offspring  of  the  sway  of  tyrants.  Tliey  had  peculiar 
fascinations  for  those  whose  former  attempts  at  rebel- 
lion  had  proved  failures,  simply  for  the  want  of  previous 
organization  of  the  revolutionary  elements.  .  O  Maho- 

•  "Felons'  Track,"  p.  96. 

♦  This  gallant  officer,  whose  first  wonnd  for  liberty  was  received  In  Ws  natlT* 
Jd  at  Sliarr,.  fell  defending  hi.  adopted  country  on  the  field  of  Antletam, 
17th  September,  1864. 


FENIAN  EEE0E8  AND  MAETYBS. 


307 


ny  and  Stephens  soon  conceived  the  idea  of  enfcrinc: 
the  most  powerful  of  those  societies,  and  acquirinfr  the 
means  by  which  an  undisciplined  mob  can  be  most 
ijeadily  and  effectually  marched  aj^ainst  an  anny  of 
professional  cut-throats."    Accordingly,  they  became 
enrolled  members  and  pupils  of  some  of  the  ablest 
masters  of  revolutionary  science  which  the  nineteenth 
century  has  produced.     In  one  point  alone  they  ne- 
lected  to  copy  from  their  continental  instructors-they 
devised  no  means  of  visiting  with  summary  chastise- 
ment  such  members  of  their  organization  as  were  led 
by  ambition,  arrogance  or  cupidity,  into  the  unpardoii- 
able  crimes  of  treason  and  insubordination 

^  Stephens  was  an  accomplished  linguist,  and,  in  time, 
his  knowledge  of  the  French  language  enabled  him  to 
contnbuteto  the  feuiUeton  Go\mnm  of  the  Paris  news- 
papers.    Every  succeeding  effort  of   his  astonished 
those  who  were  aware  of  his  foreign  birth  and  educa- 
tion ;  but  his  great  triumph  was  his  success  in  trans- 
la  ing    Ijickens   into    French.      Those    translations, 
which  were  published,  we  believe,  in  La  Presse.^l 
tracted  the  attention  of  the  Paris  literary  world,  and 
were  a  source  of  extreme  surprise  and  gratification  to 
the  distinguished  author  of ''  David  Copperfield."  His 
eltorts  as  a  litterateur  thus  brought  Stephens  a  hand- 
some compensation,  which,  added  to  certain  remit- 
tances which  O'Mahony  received  from  time  to  time 
cut  of  the  remains  of  his  Irish  patrimony  and  the 
product  of  his  exertions  as  instructor  of  Gaelic  to  some 
students  of  the  Irish  College,  enabled  our  exiles  to 
live  comiortahly  enouo-h. 


■h 


w 


f1  ■< 


'iL    i.i 


808 


DOHENT,  CORCOKAN,  o'mAHONY  *  STEPHENS. 


After  working  night  and  day  at  their  tuitions,  trans- 
lations, and  above  all,  their  revolutionary  schemes,  it 
was  decided  to  make  another  attempt,  and  on  a  prac- 
tical basis,  to  organize  the  Irish  race  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  continue,  on  a  fv- .\.t.ion  of  discipline 
the  struggle  for  national  indej, .        .ce.  ' 

O'Mahony  came  to  America  towards  the  close  of 
1853,  and  Stephens  went  to  Ireland.    Under  the  coo-- 
nomen  of  Shook,  the  latter,  in  1858  and  in  1859,  was 
known  to  be  an  active  participator  in  the  "  Phoenix 
Conspiracy,"  and  during  the  prosecutions  in  Tralee 
and  Cork,  which  followed,  he  was  constantly  referred 
to  in  the  evidence  given  by  the  informer,  O'SulUvan 
(Goula.)    He  disappeared  at  the  time  of  the  trials 
but  returned   subsequently.     The  onward  career  of 
O'Mahony  and  Stephens  in  connection  with  the  Fenian 
organization,  is  outlined  in  the  historical  introduction. 
The  latter  became  widely  known,  and  the  author- 
ities were  eager  for  his  capture,  which  was  at  last 
effected  between  five  and  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  nth  November,  1865,  by  Colonel  Lake,  attended 
by  over  thirty  police  and  detectives,  who  surrounded 
his  residence,  Fairfield  House,  Sandy  Mount.   Scaling 
the  garden  walls,  they  knocked  at  the  back  door 
Almost    immediately  Stephens  came    to    the    door 
and  inquired  "  Who  was  there  3 "    The  constables  an- 
nounced themselves  as  police  officers  authorized  by 
warrant  to  enter  and  search  the  house.   Stephens  hesi- 
tjited  in  opening  the  door,  stating  that  he  was  un- 
dressed.   The  police  promised  not  to  resort  to  force  or 
violence  if  he  compUed  with  theii-  request.    Stephens 


r 


WMAJJ   HEROES  AKD  MAETnsS.  309 

drove  it  n      Tl     ^'^'"'r  ^^"S""^'  "'"'  I^^'^-^n 
d.ove,t,n     Stephens  rushed  up  stairs,  followed  by 

rol  his"  V'f  •  "™  '"'"  <="^'°^^  -  '-  -™  bed^ 
room  las  w,fe  bemg  i„  the  apartment  at  the  time 

ug  the  police,  and  said,  "Are  you  goin<.  to  take  mv 
husband  from  me?"  Inspector  IlSghes  then  se^^ 
down  for  Constable  Dawson  to  identify  the  prUe^ 
Dawson  proceeded  to  the  bedroom,  and  on  Lt^i  g 

"Who  fC "^  ^'"'  ^'"^''""^ ^ "    ^''P^"^'  replied; 
Who  the  devU  are  you,sir2»    Dawson  then  told 

him  who  he  was,  and  Stephens  replied,  "Oh,  I  have 

read  enough  about  you-I  want  no  favo^.    W  fe  Z 

will  never  see  me  again."  The  house  was  then  M- 

bedrtlf.?    "'^."'^^  andBrophy,  who  were  all  in 
bed  at  the  time.     The  police,  "  over  thirty  in  number 
were  well  armed,  and  entered  with  pistols  inftS 
hands,  but  the  prisonei^  offered  no  resistance.    Pistol 

the  police  found  immense  quantities  of  bacon  flour 
bread,  &o.-enough,  in  fact,  to  feed  all  the  pmi^  for 
near  a  twelvemonth."  On  some  of  them,  too'lTs t 
gold  was  found,  and  a  bank  check  for  a  lar  erCint 
andothei.of  them  were  likewise  well  proWdTS 
cash  The  prisoners  were  placed  in  separate  cabs,  each 
in  charge  of  three  officei^,  and  wei^  lodged  n  the 
Wr  Castle  yard  at  half-past  six  o'clock 

before  the  Magistrate,  under  tlm  T,.„=„i,  «m„__  "° 


310      DOHENY, 


CORCORAN,  0  MAHONT 


&   STEPHENS. 


After  some  further  identification,  the  hearing  was  ad- 
journed to  the  next  day,  when  Mr.  Stephens  acted  in 
a  very  bold  manner.  In  reply  to  the  Magistrates,  he 
said : 

"  I  feel  bound  to  say,  in  justification  of,  or  rather  with  a  view 
to,  my  own  reputation,  that  I  have  employed  no  attorney  or  law- 
yer in  this  case,  and  that  I  mean  to  employ  none,  because,  in  mak- 
ing a  plea  of  any  kind,  or  filing  any  defence — I  am  not  particular- 
ly well  up  in  these  legal  terms — I  should  be  recognizing  British 
Jaw  in  Ireland.  Now,  I  deliberately  and  conscientiously  repudiate 
the  existence  of  that  law  in  Ireland — its  right,  or  even  its  exist- 
ence. I  repudiate  the  right  of  its  existence  in  Ireland.  I  defy  and 
despise  any  punishment  it  can  uiflict  on  me.     I  have  spoken." 

The  prisoners  were  committed  for  trial,  and  removed 
to  Richmond  Bridewell. 

The  defiance  of  Stephens  before  the  Magistrate,  and 
his  repudiation  of  British  law  in  Ireland,  tantalized 
the  leading  English  press  exceedingly.  They  sneered 
at  his  assumption  and  ridiculed  his  "  I  have  spoken." 
They  had  not  ceased  leveling  their  shafts  of  satire  at 
their  prisoner,  when  the  three  kingdoms  were  startled 
by  the  news  of  his  escape  froi:^  prison.  A  howl  of 
mingled  indignation  and  trepidation  went  forth,  and 
the  conviction  forced  itself  upon  the  minds  of  those 
who  sneered  at  his  defiance,  that  Stephens  "knew 
what  he  was  about."  The  fear  into  which  the  authori- 
ties were  thrown  sharpened  their  memory,  and  many 
threats  and  rumors  were  remembered,  which  did  not 
add  to  their  peace  of  mind.  Among  these  was  a  state- 
ment, made  some  months  before,  that  Stephens  had,  in 
various  disguises,  visited  all  the  jails  in  Ireland,  had 


FENIAN   HEROES  AND  M.VR'TrRS.  SJI 

tested  tlieir  strength,  and  declared  that  none  of  them 
were  strong  enough  to  hold  him.  "  The  extreme  dar- 
ing  and  cleverness  of  the  conception  and  execution  of 
this  feat,  said  a  Tory  journal,-  "  also  recalls  to  mind 
the  fact-a  strange  one,  to  say  the  least-that  the 
American  Fenians  have  boasted  of  the  knowledge  they 
had  con  rived  to  acquire  of  Irish  prisons,  and  the  pow- 

SVeteM.'' ""  ^'^  ^'-^"^^^^^  '^^^^  '^  ^^^-^^'^-7 
The  escape  of  Mr.  Stephens  was  effected  on  the  early 
morning  of  l^ovember  24.     The  night  was  dark  and 
tempestuous,  and  very  favorable  for  the  attempt,  as 
the  s  orm  and  rain  prevented  the  incidental  noises 
rom  being  heard.     The  Richmond  prison  is  situated 
m  an  isolated  position,  on  the  Circular  Road.     There 
are  no  houses  in  front,  and  the  canal  is  in  the  rear. 
The  locality  is  httle  frequented,  especially  at  night.  • 
The  cell  occupied  by  Stephens  was  in  the  corrkloi 
leading  to  tbe  eastern  wing  of  the  building,  and  ad^ 
joming  the  Chapel.     His  cell  door  was  composed  of 
strong  hammered  iron,  and  secured  by  a  massive  stock 
lock,  a  huge  padlock  to  a  staple,  and  a  thick  swingincr 
bar.     The  corridor  on  which  the   cell  opened  wal 
guarded  by  another  ponderous  iron   door  of  m-eat 
strength  and  thickness,  and  also  double-locked     Rut 
these  were  only  the  commencement  of  the  obstaclps 
that  would  prevent  escape  by  the  doors;  and  escape 
irom  the  windows  was  absolutely  impossible     After 
leaving  his  cell,  the  padlock  oi  which  had  been  opened 

♦  "  Dublin  Evening  MaiL" 


.)   - 


312      DOHENY,   COECORAN,  o'mAHONY   A   STEPHENS. 

bj  a  skeleton  key,  he  liad  to  pass  throu^rh  about  ei-ht 
locked  doors,  three  of  which  had  two  locks,  and  alFof 
which  were  left  open,  except  one,  which  was  relockcd 
to  prevent  pursuit. 

At  a  quarter  to  four  in  the  morning,  Daniel  Byrne 
the  watchman,  gave  the  alarm,  stating  that  he  had 
discovered  two  tables,  placed  one  above  the  other,  near 
the  southwestern  wall,  adjoining  the  Governor's  gar- 
den.  ^  It  was  found  that  these  tables  belonged  to  the 
lunatic  dining-hall,  and  had  to  be  brought  a  long  dis- 
tance     There  were  no  footprints  on  the  upper  table, 
which  should  have  been  the  case  had  it  been  stood  on 
by  any  pei-son  who  had  walked  through  the  open  pas- 
sages, which  were  wet  and  muddy,  as  torrents  of  rain 
were  falling.     The  wall  bore  no  marks  whatever  of 
any  person  having  escaped  by  climbing  over  it.  When 
the  Governor  and  his  assistants  went  to  the  section  of 
the  prison  in  which  Stephens  had  been  confined,  they 
found  the  doors  of  the  corridor  open,  and  also  the  door 
of  his  cell.     His  bed  looked  as  if  he  had  not  recently 
slept  in  It,  and  as  if  he  had  only  relied  himself  up  in 
a  railway  rug  which  was  found  on  the  floor,  and  wait- 
ed for  the  time  that  his  deliverer  was  to  arrive   A  por- 
tion of  the  clothes  which  he  wore  on  the  moriiino- of 
his  arrest  he  left  after  him,  and  he  must  have  put  o^'n  a 
suit  of  black,  which  he  had  received  a  few  days  before 
Ills  books  and  papers  were  in  the  position  they  were 
last  seen  m  by  the  warders.     The  searchers  for  the  fu- 
gitive were  not  left  long  in  doubt  as  to  the  means  by 
which  the  many  doors  were  opened,  a^  a  master-key 
quite  bright,  as  if  it  had  been  only  recently  made,  wm 


\ 


rs. 

ut  eight 
id  all  of 
'clocked 

Byrne, 
he  had 
er,  near 
r's  gar- 
l  to  the 
>ng  dis- 
r  table, 
ood  on 
en  pas- 
of  rain 
ever  of 
When 
tion  of 
i,  they 
e  door 
cently 
'  up  in 
I  wait- 
A.  por- 
ting of 
t  on  a 
)efore. 
'  were 
he  fu- 
ns by 
r-key, 
3.  was 


FENIAK   nEROES   AND  MARTYRS.  313 

e^  L,r,       ,">'  ""  ""''^  "'^■'"""'•^  »"<!  vc«el«  going  to 

Bemoh  and  inqun-ics  were  continued  in  the  priaon  and 
in  Its  neigliborliood.  '^  " 

Jlreof'  '^''^™'/'""  5'«Pl>enB  was  under  tlio 

P  son  to  the  other  waa  accomplislied  without  a  .in<.le 
Wnnder,  or  without  balking  at  a  loek  or  door     Th  t 

that  n  •  \-^  '""""''^^  ""^  ^'"'"'^d  on  learning 
that  Daniel  Byrne,  who  had  formerly  been  a  ^0^^ 
™an,had  left  tl.at  force  to  join  the  Ba  alien  ofsf 
Pa  nek, n  the  Pope's  army,  had  retu.-ned  to  Ire  and 
after  the  affair  of  Castelfidardo,  and  that  papers  wem 
found  among  his  effects  associating  him  wiX  he  fI 
n.an  Brotherliood.     "  With  such  facets  befru   ''  s^d 

hoMoft"Gf""'  "f--^-^  !>«-  ^d,Whatsn.<:^ 
iiold  of  the  Government  is  safe  fr,.m  the  treacher-  of 
n>on  who  eat  the  Queen's  bread?  Are  t  ,e  1- ink 
and  magazines?     Is  the  Bank  of  Ireland?''  ' 

sued  offe7''  *'  ™«7"-<=''ted,  and  a  proclamation  is- 
sued, offering  a  reward  of  £1,000  for  information  lead- 
>.^  to  the  arrest  of  Stephens,  and  of  f  800  for  the  an-est 
0  any  person  who  harbored,  received  or  assisted  lim 
>vith  a  free  pardon,  in  addition  to  the  reward  to  a"y 
persons  coneerned  in  the  escape  who  would  gvet"^ 
lormation  to  lead  to  his  arrest.  ^ 

Outside  the  prison  Stephens  was  met  by  Colonel- T 


^it 


i\ 


su 


DOIIENY,   COliCOUAN,  OMAIIONV    <k    8TKPI1EN8. 


J.  Kelly  and  .Tolm  Flood,  mul  IiIh  Hnl)soqn(.Mit  oac!i])0 
to  Fnuico  iiiul  virtit  to  America  ia  told  in  the  Hkc^tcli  of 
the  former,  who  has  sinco  had  a  atill  more  ihrllliiii;', 
thon<;jii  less  mysterious,  escape  from  the  hands  of  the 
mitliorities  in  Manchester  on  ue  18th  September, 
18(57. 

Of  O'Mahony's  laborrt  in  America  a  brief  oiitlino 
luift  been  given  in  connection  with  the  jirogress  of  tlio 
Fenian  movement,*  up  to  his  retiring  from  a  lead- 
ing part  in  it,  on  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Ste[>hensin  Amer- 
ica. The  position  of  Mr.  ()'Mali«)ny,  then  and  since, 
has  been  deiined  by  himself,  f  and  it  is  due  to  his  ser- 
vices to  give  his  own  words.     Of  the  past,  he  says : 

For  more  than  eight  years  I  hold  the  position  of  Chiof  Ofllccr  of 
the  Fenian  Brotlierhood  in  America.  By  excessive  labor  and 
ceaseless  vigilance,  I  built  it  up  till  it  became  the  most  extciisivo, 
If  not  the  most  efTcctive,  revolutionary  organization  of  Irislunon 
that  over  existed.  I  may  also  assort  that  it  would  not,  with  i/s 
other  swroinidings,  have  ever  reached  its  lato  magnitude,  cither 
at  homo  or  in  this  country,  but  for  my  persevering  exertions.  Dur- 
ing all  luy  administrative  career,  I  am  not  conscious  to  myself  of 
liaving  conuuitted  one  dishonest  or  one  seltish  act.  From  the  first 
to  the  last,  I  have  had  around  me,  cognizant  of  my  oflicial  con- 
duct, many  men  who  have  since  become  my  bitterest  enemies. 
Not  one  of  these  persons  has  ever  come  forward  openly  to  charge 
me  specilically  with  such  an  act,  though  several  of  them  have  be- 
trayed my  most  secret  confidence  in  other  matters.  They  can- 
not do  it.  During  the  same  time  I  have  had  oflicial  comnnuii- 
cation,  both  by  word  and  letter,  with  many  thousands,  hundreds 

•See  Ulstorical  Introduction. 

+  Letter  addressed  to  D.  O'SuUivan,  Esq.,  Editor  "Irish  People,"  dated  New 
York,  April  19th,  1867. 


fKNIAN  nUBOM  AMD  MARTYRS. 


31/) 


iHiHiUood.     It  cmuiot  1)0  done. 

In  roply  to  tlio  Btatoment  tlmt  liig  retirement  was 
compulsory,  Mr.  O'Maliony  says : 

My  r..«lKn,atlon  wa«  not  alone  aUogotlu,r  voluntary  on  my  part. 
...    1  had  rc«c.ved  on  that  nt.,.  for  Honu,  n.,„t,.  b.lL,  it  a' u2 

i    hKs  war  programnu,  in  IrHand.  and  becauso  I  tbit  tl  at  th  r  "a 
no  proHpc-.t  of  an  unitccl  F.nian   Hrotl.erl.ood  in  ti,i«  oo  u.mC 

I  held  n)y  ofAco  in  it,  Hnrroun.lcd  and  undonnined,  as  I  bad    Z 

Of  his  position  since  retirement,  he  remarks: 

Will,  respect  to  my  present  connection  with  the  Fenian  Uroth.r. 
hood,  I  beg  to  state  that  I  an.  still  a  private  member  of  that  body 
and  m  What  is  technically  called  -good  standing,"  inthect      fn 
CVcle  m  this  city.     I.,t  further  than  this  I  have'  ad  no  ccn  Z    n 
w.th  e.t  .er  Mr.  James  Stephens  or  with  his  successors  ^Z^^ 

last  May  I  have  taken  no  part,  public  or  private,  in  directintr  their 
acts  or  counsels.  From  its  connnencement  i  totally  "stentld 
n.,m  that  reckless  and  haphazard  course  of  action  of' w'h  Mr 

at  helnfs' wT"  ^  ^"^""^'"^  P--i- made  by  1dm 
at  the  Jones  Wood  meeting  lant  Summer.  I  condemned  the  whole 

tenor  of  us  conduct  in  the  management  of  Fenian  affairs  ^omS 
M.ne  up  to  the  hour  of  his  departure  for  Europe     Had  I  ben 
suited  on  ,he  subject  in  time,  and  had  my  opinion  prevailed  L" 
^jxecut,ve  Department  of  the  Brotherhood,  no  attempt  at  1  ris  n^ 
would  have  been  made  in  Ireland  this  Spring.  ^ 


316     DOHENY,  CORCORAN,  o'mAIIONY  &   STEPHENS. 

Of  the  rising  in  March,  and  the  men  connected  with 
it,  he  says : 

Their  late  action  had  indeed  become  indispensable  to  the  present 
honor  and  ultimate  success  of  the  Fenian  cause,  as  well  as  to  thcu- 
own  characters  as  honest  and  devoted  patri(Ms.  Theirs  was  a  des- 
perate venture,  but  it  had  become  botli  a  moral  and  military  neces- 
sity upon  their  parts  by  reason  of  the  severe  pressure  that  was  upon 
the  organization  and  themselves.  Should  it  fail  for  the  present,  it 
has  even  already  advanced  and  elevated  the  cause  of  Ireland  im- 
mensely before  the  world,  and  has  opened  the  road  for  others  to 
her  fast  approaching  liberation.  Our  gallant  brothers  who  liave 
lately  left  us  must  be  considered  the  Lardy  pioneers  of  Iieland'a 
freedom  in  any  case. 


with 


resent 
)  thoii' 
ades- 
ticces- 
I  upon 
ent,  it 
id  im- 
lers  to 
•  liave 
laud's 


i-i 

ilil 

W          "* 

nM 

k&j  tij'i  1 

If  1  ^  ' 

ffif^''    ! 

r-  - 


■>'»m  lurir-  IreJand  tn 
MovcKOKt    fn     4f>~A  rr, 
Joiirnaii«,a_.Travels  . 
—The   ;r/si  /V,);,;e  ^;. 
SiHccth'^  Trial  of  Ei 
sfitiBJri.:.tioii-SeDt(aic 

Cr 


I-      i' 


riillip  Gray  by  ,«{t 


:tr\' 


cier<xyman 

(t!) 


ear- 


^ 


'^'. 


%■ 


"4 


;•) 


FENIAIJ   HEROES  AND  UARTYBS. 


317 


THOMAS  CLAKKE  LUBT. 

Since  the  Trial  of  Emmet   in  nThnn~«        ."'""'  Cominis.sion,  the  First 

One  of  the  ablest  writers  nf  ft.^  t?      i     •       " 
Party  in  Ireland-an  effic  c^t  feJ^Lf       T-''"''^ 

whole  career  to  the  caurofT-'.'  ^'""'"^  ^^^^ 
ability  IS  only  second  to  the  devotion  wit Wl     i    ! 

T,      i.  X  ,  ;    ^^^I'iim  ,  out  lie  Jiad  tlio  stroncrtl.  r^f 

ca.ce.  mTmuty  College  was  most  pro.ubin^  ],.u-inl 
o,^cons,cle..able scholasric  distiuctio'n  at  an  SlrW  1.= 

Young  Ireland  leaders  captivated  him,  and  decladL 


818 


TnOMAS    CLARKE    LUBT. 


liiinsolf  an  adherent  of  tlieir  views  and  pm'poscs,  he 
Biicriliced  the  friendship  and  patroini^e  of  his  uncle, 
wlio  was,  and  is,  an  extreme  k)yalist. 

After  the  capture  and  hanishment  of  the  leading 
patriots  of  '48,  Mr.  Luby,  in  the  following  year,  united 
In'rnself  with  James  Finton  Lalor,  Josej)!!  Brenan,  and 
Pliilip  Gray  in  a  new  movement,  of  which  he  has 
given  a  brief  but  suggestive  account  in  a  sketch  of 
Gray.  lie  was  one  of  the  iive  forming  the  Committee 
of  Defence  of  this  new  organization,  and  was  arrested 
at  Cashel,  after  an  attempt  at  a  rising  had  been 
made  at  Cappoquin,  lYtli  September,  1849,  and  for 
participating  in  which,  Joseph  Brenan  and  Hugh  W. 
Collender  had  to  fly  to  America.  Luby  was  kept  in 
jail  for  a  short  time.  During  the  year  '40,  and  after, 
until  its  discontinuance,  Mr.  Luby  was  a  leading  wri- 
ter for,  and,  after  Brenan's  flight  to  America,  editor  of, 
the  national  journal  called  the  Irishman. 

After  the  failure  of  this  journal,  Luby  continued 
true  to  his  principles  through  very  trying  domestic 
difficulties,  notwithstanding  the  inducements  held  out 
to  him  by  his  loyal  relative,  if  he  would  give  up  pa- 
triotism and  continue  his  studies  for  the  Irish  Bar. 
Luby,  however,  resisted  all  arguments  and  tempta- 
tions. 

About  this  time  he  w^ent  to  Melbourne,  Australia, 
and  returning  by  way  of  France,  stopped  some  time 
in  Paris,  where  he  met  those  Irish  exiles  wdio  nad 
taken  up  their  temporaiy  abode  in  that  city.  Return- 
ing to  Ireland  he  became  connected,  in  1855,  with  a 
new  national  journal,  the  Irish  Tribune^  the  chief  ed- 


FEKIAN   nUKOES   AKD  MARTrES.  319 

itorial  oondnct  of  wl.ich  devolved  npon  him;  and  veiT 
My  d,d  he  perlbn,.  it.  Owi,,.,  as  he  states,  to  the 
n..sma„nso.nent  of  its  ostensible  editor,  the  paper 
hMlei.  He  subsequently  traveled  witli  Stephens— 
mostly  on  loot-organizing  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
"y.  Ho  gave  important  aid  in  founding  the  Fenian 
niovement  in  Ireland,  and  was  one  of  its  most  earnest 
^  «ell  as  prominent  organizers  and  advocates.  The 
^Aa„,rock  makes  brief  allusion  to  the  appearanee  of 

LVIf'^rMT'"*'"""'  '"P»Wi«:"On  theoeca- 
6ion   of  the  McManus   Committee  holding  its  later 
meetmgs,  Luby  was  to  be  seen  and  heard  at  their  dis- 
cussions,  the  speaker  for,  and  the  director  of,  a  party 
who  followed  his  behests  with  implicit  consent.    He 
was  promment  at  the  Rotundo  meeting,  on  the  affair 
of    he  lient,  and  was  the  writer  of  the  celebrated  list 
of   hose  who  were  to  compose  the  council  which  was 
to  decide  upon  the  question  of  agitation  in  Ireland  or 
not.  ^  When  the  aggregate  gathering  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  a  statue  to  Henry  Grattan  in  College  Green 
...  opposition  to  that  proposed  for  Prince  Albert,  was 
he  d  in  the  Itound  Room,  he  was  present  at  its  di.,so 
1..  .on  in  confusion."     Mr.  Luby  visited  the  United 
btates  in  the  early  part  of  1863 ;  and  later  in  that  year 

hold,  bright  organ  of  popular  rights,  discardino-  the 
appliances  of  hackneyed  agitators  usually  indnlcTed  in 
Y  popukr  leaders.  It  at  once  struck  the  popular 
<|l.o.-d.  Its  chief  writers  were  soon  known  to  be 
Ihomas  Clarke  Luby,  Jolm  O'Leaiy,  and  Charles  J. 
L.ekliam,  while  J.  O'Donovan  (Rossa),  Denis  Dow- 


320 


THOMAS    CLARKE    LUBT. 


ling  Miilcaliy,  James  O'Connor,  and  other  good  men 
and  true  were  connected  with  it  in  various  positions. 
It  was  the  literary  centre  of  Fenianism  in  Irehmd. 

It  was  seized  on  the  niglit  of  Friday,  Seiitember  15, 
1865,  and  all  the  men  within  reach,  who  were  con- 
nected with  it,  arrested.  Two  detectives  watched  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Luby,  at  Dolphin's  Bam,  through 
the  night,  and  having  gained  admission  in  the  morn- 
ing, arrested  him  and  seized  such  papers  as  they 
deemed  of  importance. 

A  Special  Commission  was  ordered  for  the  27th 
November,  but,  previous  to  its  opening,  a  motion  was 
made  in  the  Queen's  Bench,  on  the  23d,  on  behalf  of 
Luby,  O'Leary,  and  O'Donovan  (Rossa),  for  a  wait  of 
certiorari  to  remove  any  indictment  that  might  be 
found  against  them  at  the  Commission,  on  the  ground 
that  a  fair  and  impartial  trial  could  not  be  had  in 
Dublin.  The  unanimous  judgment  of  the  court  re- 
fused it,  and  the  prisoners  were  duly  brought  to  trial. 
Luby  was  the  lirst  victim. 

The  Special  Commission  was  opened  on  Monday 
morning,  :N'ovember  27th,  in  the  Court  House,  Green 
street,  Dublin.  It  was  over  sixty  years  since  a  similar 
tribunal  sat  there — the  last  Special  Commission  for 
Dublin  having  been  issued  in  1803  for  the  trial  of 
Robert  Emmet.  In  the  interim  there  have  been  many 
Special  Commissions  held  in  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try—in Limerick,  in  Tipperary,  and  other  counties 
where  so  called  agrarian  disturbances  have  prevailed* 
but  since  the  year  1803,  the  only  Special  Commission 
which  has  issued  for  the  trial  of  political  prisoners 


FENLiN   HEEOES   AND   MARTYRS. 


321 


Winch  W.Uuun   S.nith  O'Bnen,  Terence   IJellew  Mc 
JVlaims,  lliomas  Francis  Menglier,  and  Patrick  0U3(,n- 
o hue  were  convicted  of  liigh  treason.     Tlie  cakmdar 
ot  rebels  who  have  stood  in  Green  street  Court  11(,U80 
waiting  for  their  doom,  would  make  a  lengthy  roll. 
At  that  same  rusty  iron  bar,  which  has  been  grasped 
alike  by  the  meanest  felon  and  the  guiltiest  murderer, 
have  stood  some  of  the  best  and  truest  men  of  Ireland 
while  the  game  of  law  was  played  out  for  life  or  death 
before  them      The  building  in  which  so  many  memo 
rabie  trials  have  been  witnessed  is  a  very  unpretend- 
ing structure,  standing,  or  rather  hidden,  in  a  re-ion 
oi  the  city  little  seen  by  visitors.     In  the  immediate 
neighborhood    narrow    streets    and    wretched    lanes 
abound;  and  Green  street  itself  is  a  miserable  and 
disreputable  looking  locality.     The  Court  House  ad- 
joined  that  formidable  fortress  prison,  Newgate-the 
Castile  of  the  Irish   Metropolis-the   demolition   of 
which  hideous  relic  of  barbarous  times  had  been  com- 
menced  a  few  months  previous. 

The  admission  to  the  Court  House  was  to  have  been 
by  tickets,  which  were  issued  by  the  High  Sheriff-  but 
on  the  24th,  after  the  escape  of  Stephens,  all  the  tick- 
ets issued  were  declared  cancelled  by  order  of  « the 
government;"  consequently,  on  the  day  of  the  trial 
lew  were  admitted  save  policemen. 

In  the  dock  stands— the  observed  of  all  observers— 
the  prisoner,  Thomas  Clarke  Luby,  a  man  apparently 
half  way  between  thirty  and  forty  years  of  age,  of 
middle  size,  sallow  complexion,  nose  slightly  aquiline 


M.-U. 


11 


322 


TnOMAS    CLAIIKE    LITBT. 


BCfiTity  dnrlc  board  and  luoustnclio.     TTis  dc.noanor  is 
Bonu'wl.at  listlosB,  tl.ou-l,  ho  is  not  inattentive  to  wlmt 
18  ^'oinn.  on.     At  one  side  of  tlie  (ronrt  and  not  far  re- 
moved fmm  liim  sit  S')nie  ladicH.     One  of  tlieni  (Hadly 
and  dee])ly  eoneerncd  in  all  tliat  is  paH8in<r)  ^  liis  wife 
--a  dau-liter  of  the  jx  )t  Frazer,  one  of  the  bards  of 
48,  better  known  by  liis  nam  de  ^^lume  of  "J.  do 
Jean;"— near  lier  sits  Miss  O'Leary,  sister  to  tlio  ])rl. 
Boner,  Dr.  O'Leary,  and  by  lier  Bide  sits  Mrs.  O'Don- 
ovan  (Rossa),  wlio  seems  in  niiicli  better  spirits  than 
eitlier  of  her  companions.      Tlie   Attornev-General, 
lawson,  a  commonplace  looking  individual  is  stating 
the  case,  reading  a  good  deal  from  tlie  mnltiplicy  ol* 
documents  wliich  he  lias  before  him.     Batches,  bun- 
dies  of  the  Fenian  archives  lie  on  the  table.     Thera 
are  the  originals,  here  are  the  printed  copies  in  U% 
hand.     Here  are  letters  of  J(,lm  O'Mahony,  hero  ard 
the  suppressed  resolutions  of  the  Chicago  Convention, 
here  is  that  fatal  document— the  letter  of  James  Ste! 
phens,  api)ointing  the  Irish  Execntive— here  are  letters 
of  O'KcL'lfe.     Letters,  documents,  not  by  the  score,  or 
by  the  dozen,  but  absolutely  by  the  hundred,  are  hera 
produced— most  of  them  captured  in  the  lAsh  Peo- 
ple otfice,  others  taken  at  the  houses  of  the  prisoners. 
The  suppressed  resolutions  of  the  Chicuiro  Conven- 
tion proclaimed  an  Irish  Republic  ;  and  the  letter  of 
Stephens  was  in  the  form  of  a  commission  as  follow^: 

"Executive— T  herehy  appoint  Thomas  Clarke  Lnby,  Jolin 
O'Leary,  and  Cliarlcs  J.  Kickliani  a  Committee  of  Organization,  or 
Executive,  with  the  same  supreme  control  over  the  home  ovgmU 


FKNIAN   IIEIIOES  AND  MARTYB8, 


323 


zalinn  of  Ireland,  "Rnglaiid,  Rrntland,  &c.,  T  Imvo  oxorolsofl  mysolf. 
1  fiirtlicr  ciiiiiowcr  llictn  lo  nppoiiil  a  coiniiiiltco  of  military  In- 
«l)i'(li(»ii  uiul  a  (•((tniuillcc  ol'uppoal  and  jii(li,^mciit,  tha  iunctions  of 
wliich  will  be  niado  known  to  each  nu-nibcr  by  tho  Executive. 
Aw'  tniHting  to  the  patriotism  and  ability  of  the  Executive,  1  fully 
€'P  lorwi  their  action  beforehand,  and  call  upon  every  man  in  our 
j-anks  to  sni)pon  and  bo  guided  by  tUem  In  all  that  concerns  our 
Brotherhootl 

"Sl^ed  ••JAME8  STEPHENS,'* 

Dublin,  Stb  Murch,  ISei  . 

Upon  a  Tetter  of  C.  "M.  O'TTcefTe,  fmiiKl  in  tlie  Irish 
People  olKce,  a  cliarge  of  assnssinatioii  was  based.  It 
was  shown  tliat  Mr.  Liiby  was  a  re<iji8tered  proprietor 
of  that  pai>or  ;  and  his  connection  with  the  organiza* 
tion  as  a  chief  was  testified  to  by  one  Nagle,  an  in- 
former, who  liad  been  engaged  in  the  cstablisliinent  as 
a  folder,  lie  was  found  guilty  of  treason-felony  on 
all  the  counts,  on  the  fiftli  day  of  the  trial,  and  in  re- 
pljr  to  the  usual  question,  said  : 

"Well,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,  I  don't  think  any  person  pre- 
fcnt,  is  surprised  at  the  verdict  found  against  me.  1  have  been 
prepared  for  this  verdict  ever  since  I  was  arrested.  Although  I 
thought  it  my  duly  to  fight  the  British  Government  inch  by  inch, 
to  dispute  eveiy  inch,  I  felt  I  was  sure  to  be  found  guilty,  since 
the  advisers  of  the  Crown  took  what  the  Attorney-General  was 
pleased  the  other  day  to  call  the  "  merciful  course."  Of  course  I 
thought  I  might  have  a  fair  chance  of  escape  so  long  as  the  capi- 
tal charge  was  impending  over  me,  but  when  they  resolved  on  try- 
ing me  under  tiie  treason-fehmy  act,  I  felt  that  I  had  not  ihe 
lilighlest,  smallest  chance.  I  am  somewhat  embarrassed  at  the 
present  moment  as  to  what  I  should  say.  Under  the  circum- 
•tances,  there  are  a  gi-eat  many  things  that  I  would  wish  to  say, 
iMrtibeling  that  there  are  other  persons  in  tho  same  situation  with 


324 


PENTAN   HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


li  ul 


t    i 


M 


mys(>lf,  nnd  that  T  mlg;ht  allow  myself  to  say  somcflilng  fnjndicloiw, 
which  would  peril  their  cases,  I  feel  that  my  tongue  is,  to  a  gre:it 
degree,  tied.     Nolwilhstandin.sr,  there  are  two  or  three  points  upon 
whleh  I  would  say  a  few  words.     I  have  nolhing  to  say  of  Jud-e 
Keogh's  charge  to  the  jury.     lie  did  not  take  up  any  of  the  topics 
that  had  been  introduced  to  prt^udice  the  case  against  mc— for  in- 
stance, he  did  not  take  up  the  accusation  of  an  intention  to  assas- 
sination attributed  to  my  fellow-prisoners  and  myself.     The  Solicit. 
or-G'jncral,  in  his  reply  to  Mr.  Butt,  referred  to  these  topics.     Mr' 
Barry  was  the  first  person  who  advanced  these  charges.     I  thought 
they  were  partially  given  up  by  the  Attomey-General  in  his  open- 
ing statement,  at  least  they  were  put  forward  in  a  very  modified 
form ;  but  the  Solicitor-General,  in  his  very  virulent  speech,  put 
forward  those  charges  in  a  most  aggravated  manner.     He  sought 
even  to  exaggerate  upon  Mr.   Barry's  original  statement.     Now, 
with  respect  to  those  charges,  in  justice  to  my  character  I  must  sny 
that  in  this  court  there  is  not  a  mail  more  mcapable  of  anything 
like  a  nnissacre  or  assassination  than  I  am.     I  really  believe  that 
the  g.'titlemen  who  have  shown  such  ability  in  persecuting  me,  in 
the  bottom  of  their  hearts  believe  me  incapable  of  an  act  of  assas- 
sination or  massacre.     I  don't  see  that  there  is  the  smallest  amount 
of  evidence  to  show  that  I  ever  entertained  the  notion  of  a  massa- 
cre of  landlords  and  priests.     I  forget  whether  the  advisers  of  the 
Cjown  said  I  intended  massacre  of  the  Protestant  clergymen. 
Some  of  the  writers  of  our  enlightened  press  said  that  I  did. 
Now,  with  respect  to  the  charge  of  assassinating  the  landlords,  the 
only  thing  that  gives  even  the  shadow  of  a  color  to  that  charge  is 
the  letter  signed,  alleged  to  be  signed,  by  Mr.  O'Keeffe.     Now, 
assunuug,  but  by  no  means  admitting,  of  course,  that  the  letter 
was  written  by  Mr.  O'KeelTe,  let  me  make  a  statement  about  it. 
I  linow  the  facts  I  am  about  to  state  are  of  no  practical  utility  to 
me  now,  at  least  with  respect  to  the  judges.     I  know  it  is  of  no 
practical  utility  to  me,  because  I  cannot  give  evidence  on  mv  own 
beliiilf;  but  it  may  be  of  practical  utility  to  others  with  whom  I 
wish  to  stand  well.     I  believe  my  words  will  carry  conviction,  and 
carry  much  more  convictiim  than  any  words  of  the  legal  advisers 
of  the  Crown  can,  to  more  than  300,000  of  tlie  Irish  race  in  Ire- 


!i^ 


THOMAS   CLAKKK   LtTBT.  325 

Jrind  England,  Scotland,  nn,l  America.     Well,  I  dony  flb.olutcly 
.at  I  ever  n.torlaincl  any  id.-u  of  assussliuiting  the  landlords,  and 
tl'«  l^'ttcr  (,t  Mr.  O'Kceile,  ns-sumhiK  it  to  bo  his  MUr,  is  the  only 
evidence  on  the  subject.     My  ac  (i.,alntance  wllh  Mr.  O'lCeelle  was 
ot  the  Blij,d.test  nature.     I  did  not  even  kiiow  of  his  existence 
When  the  In,/,.  People  was  started.     He  came  after  that  nap(,r 
was  cstabU.hed  a  few  months,  to  the  offlce,  an.l  oJlercd  some  arti- 
cles;  some  were  rejected,  some  were  inserted,  and  I  call  the  atb-n- 
tion  ot  the  legal  advisers  of  the  Crown  to  this  fact,  that  among  the 
papers  which  tliey  got,  those  that  were  Mr.  O'Keetle's  articles  had 
imny  paragraphs  scored  out;  in  fact,  we  put  in  no  articles  of  his 
without  a  gnaldeal  of  what  is  technically  called  ''culling  down  " 
Now,  that  lett.-r  of  his  to  me  was  simply  a  private  document.     It 
contanied  the  mere  private  views  of  the  writer;  and  I  phd-n.  this 
10  the  court  as  a  man  of  honor-aud  I  belie-ve  in  si.ile  of  the%osi- 
tion  m  which  I  stand,  among  my  countrymen  I  am  believed  to  be 
a  man  of  honor,  and  that,  if  my  life  depended  upon  it,  I  would  not 
Bpeak  falsely  about  the  thing.     When  I  read  that  letter,  and  the 
first  I  gave  it  to  was  my  wife  ;  I  remember  we  read  it  with  fits  of 
laughter  at  the  ridiculous  ideas  contained  in  it.     My  wife  at  the 
moment  said,  «had  I  not  better  burn  that  letter.'  «0h  no  '  I  said 
loolcing  upon  it  as  a  most  ridiculous  thing,  and  never  dreamino-  ibj 
a  moment  that  such  a  document  would  ever  turn  up  agains°  me 
and  produce  the  unpleasant  consequences  it  has  produced-I  mean 
the  imputation  of  assassination  and  massacre,  which  has  given  me 
a  great  deal  more  trouble  than  anything  else  in  the  case.     That 
disposes,  as  far  as  I  can  at  present  dispose  of  it,  of  the  charo-e  of 
wishing  to  assassinate  the  landloixls.     As  to  the  charge  of  deshing 
to  assassinate  the  priests,  I  deny  it,   as  being  the  most  monstrous 
thing  in  the  world.     Why,  my  goodness,  every  one  who  read  the 
articles  m  the  paper  would  see  that  the  phiin  doctrine  laid  down 
there  was  to  reverence  the  pn.'sts  so  long  as  they  confined  them- 
selves to  their  sacerdotal  functions;  but  that  when  the  priest  de- 
scended  to  the  arena  of  politics,  he  became  no  more  than  any  other 
man,  and  would  just  be  regarded  as  any  other  man.     If  he  was  a 
man  of  ability  and  honesty,  of  course  he  would  get  the  respect  that 
such  men  get  in  politics;  if  he  was  not  a  man  of  ability  there 


I 


326 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


n   ! 


f  i 


III    ] 


!ft 


would  be  no  more  thought  of  him  than  any  one  else.  If  he  is  not 
a  man  of  ability  he  will  not  be  thought  of  more  than  a  shoemaker 
or  any  one  else.  That  was  the  teaching  of  the  Irlfih  People  with 
regard  to  priests.  I  believe  the  Irish  People  has  done  a  great 
deal  of  good,  even  among  those  who  do  not  believe  in  the  rcvolu- 
tionaiy  doctrines  of  the  Irish  People.  I  believe  the  revolutionary 
doctrines  of  the  Irish  People  are  good.  I  believe  nothing  can 
ever  save  Ii-eland  except  independence,  and  I  believe  that  all  other 
attempts  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  Ireland  are  mere  temporaiy 
expedients  and  make  shifts" — 

Judge  Keogh — "I  am  very  reluctant  to  interrupt  you,  Mr. 
Luby." 

Mr.  Luby—**  Very  well,  my  lord.  I  will  leave  that.  I  believe 
in  this  way  the  Irish  People  has  done  an  immensity  of  good.  It 
taught  the  people  not  to  give  up  then-  right  of  private  judgment  in 
temporal  matters  to  the  clergy ;  that,  while  they  reverenced  the 
clergy  upon  the  altar,  they  should  not  giv^  up  their  conscience  in 
secular  matters  to  the  clergy.  I  believe  that  is  good.  Others  may 
differ  from  me.  No  set  of  men,  I  believe,  ever  set  to  work  ear- 
nestly but  they  did  good  in  some  shape  or  form  " — 

Judge  Keogh— "  I  am  most  reluctant,  Mr.  Luby,  to  interrupt 
you,  but  do  yon  think  you  should  pursue  this  " — 

Mr.  Luby— "Very  well;  I  will  not.  I  think  that  disposes  of 
those  things.  I  don't  care  to  say  much  about  myself.  It  would 
be  rather  beneath  n^e.  Perhaps  some  persons  who  know  me 
would  say  I  should  not  have  touched  upon  the  assassination  charge 
at  all — that,  in  fact,  I  have  rather  shov.n  weakness  in  attaching  so 
much  importance  to  it.  But,  with  regard  to  the  entire  com'se  of 
my  life — and  whether  it  be  a  mistaken  course  or  not,  will  be  for 
every  man's  individual  judgment  to  decide — this  I  know,  that  no 
man  ever  loved  Ireland  more  than  I  have  done — no  man  has  ever 
given  up  his  whole  being  to  Ireland  to  the  entire  extent  that  I  have 
done.  From  the  time  I  came  to  what  has  been  called  here  the 
years  of  discretion,  my  entire  thoughts  and  being  have  been  devo- 
ted to  Ireland.  I  believed  the  course  I  pursued  was  right.  Otliers 
may  take  a  dilferent  view.  I  believe  the  majority  of  my  country- 
men this  minute,  if— instead  of  being  tried  before  a  petty-jury  who, 


THOMAS    CLAKKE    LUBY. 


327 


l^'^^nZ^':^:':^  -^-^^^oB^^  law-I^e.  to  be 

t^-3'men  .vo^d  ^oLu    7^^^^^^^  I^J^^^^  ^^  -^  conn- 

served  well  of  my  counliV  Wi  .  ^  "■™"'"'  ^"*  *^^^  ^  ^^«- 
forth  in  the  preTsto  T.        ^  7       '^'  P^^^-^^^ings  of  this  trial  go 

is  not  to  be  Caired  of  t/  '  fT''  ""^  "^  ^^"^  ^^"^  «^  ^-^-^ 
that  as  lo^g  as  th    f .  '  '^''''°'  '^  °"*  ^^*  ^  '^'^  ^^^-^'-y- 

themseIvesrevtydMcuX\"/7''""*^™^^-^^  *«  -p'- 
tivity-even  cSt  ^  t^b  ^"^  ^/^^  *^  '^^^^  '^'^ 
With  these  words  I  con  dude  ''  "^''^  '''^"*  ^^  '°^^- 

Who  I  am  sm-e  ha^e  gteS   a   T  twl  "''^''™'"*'  ^^  "  •'"^•^ 

a.ived  at  aiy  o„.;Lr:rerci:r  ;""""• '''"  '"^^  ""^ 

The  prisoner  was  sentenced  to  twenty  years  cennl 
^n-itude.     A  slight  flush  snifused  his  th  ^Sfec 

C  J  w;"?,^".''"' ""  """''"'*  ^"--  ■•onndle 
walked  Mth  a  hrm  paee  from  tiie  dock  to  the  ccl  as- 
signed h,m  and  his  fellow-prisonei.,  and  shortly  after 

Tiie  accompanying  sketch  of  Phillip  Gray,  besides 
herns  a  worthy  tribute  to  a  doyotcd  nationa  st,  "an 
nter^  ,ng   ,„k  ,„  (,„  ,e™i,„;„„ary  history  co^ect 
"1,^  _  48  and  the  niovenieiits  which  resulted  in  the 
i  email  organization. 


II  ! 


K    ! ! 


f/1  i!  ) 


328  FENIAH  HEliOES  AXD  MljRTTfiS, 


PHILIP  anAY. 

Mr.  Gray  was  secretary  of  tlie  Swift  Club  in  Dublin 
during  the  Confederate  excitement.  Mr.  Luby 
writes  :* 

"  Wlien  tbe  Young  Ireland  cliiefs  had  decided  on 
taking  the  field  in  the  summer  of  '48,  Gray  accompa- 
nied a  gentleman,  since  distinguished  in  America  and 
the  Antipodes,  to  the  County  Meath,  where  they 
vainly  endeavored  to  stir  up  a:*  insurrection.  Tlie 
failure,  however,  nothing  daunted  him.  Abandoning, 
without  a  moment's  liesitation,  an  excellent  situation 
which  he  held  in  the  Drogheda  Railway  office,  he 
made  his  way  to  Tipperary.  Even  Smith  O'Brien's 
attempt  could  not  dishearten  the  invincible  spirit  of 
Gray,  He  lingered  in  the  South,  and  contrived  to 
get  into  communication  with  Mr.  John  O'Mahony, 
and,  though  previously  unknown  to  that  gentleman, 
succeeded  in  winning  his  confidence,  "When  O'Maho- 
ny's  insurrection  broke  out  in  autumn,  that  chief 
entrusted  the  command  of  the  Waterford  insurgents 
to  Gray,  in  conj  unction  with  Mr,  John  Savage.f    Gray 

*  This  sketch,  omitting  for  want  of  space  a  few  personal  parnQ;raphs,  was  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  to  T.  F.  Meaghe,r  wheo  editing  the  •'IriehNcwB,"  In  which 
journal  (March  14,  1857,)  it  appeared, 

t  This  is  not  exactly  correct.  Gray,  wary,  unknown  and  alone,  In  the  noigh- 
borliood  of  Carrick-on-Suir,  attracted  the  suspicions  of  some  of  the  Clubbi>;ts, 
who  arrested  him,  and  sent  for  Mr.  Savage  to  examine  him.  Although  ho  had 
not  met  Gray  in  Dublin,  Mr.  Savage  was  soon  satisfied  of  his  truth,  and  tlie 
"prisoner"  was  released  with  aid  and  good  cheer.  Very  soon  alter,  Mr. 
Savage  was  requested  by  a  lady— a  devoted  nationalist— to  go  to  a  certain 
locality  on  the  Waterford  eide  of  the  Suir,  a»  a  "  rather  guspicioue  person  was 


THOaUS    CLARKE    LUBy. 


229 


The 


n;n.  of  Winter),  the=io:::S;r:^^^^^^^^^^ 

inCemenZ  ^Z Te  te:thef  if  "^''.  ""''  «"  ""> 

sometimes  at  tl,e  back rf lin^-k  Z  V" -^P'"  ""- 
jery  rarely,  getting  a  shaSl^foHrr"  '^"  '"' 
m  a  peasant's  cabin.  Durino.  all  Z  T''"''  ''''" 
clung  to  tl,e  idea  of  Iri"/X  ,  tion  T  vT  "  •'^'  ""' 
tenacity.     He  took  adv^nu        i  '"'  '""iC'We 

in  tl,e  valley  of  the  S,X^^'      ■"'  '"""•'<'"  *°  f"™' 

-".g.e  for-\i::  laLe.™!^;::^  t^^'-i  ^» 

Kilkenny,  and  tL  ^0^^^'^^%  ^^ 
liavmg  extraordinary  powers  of  enrl  ,'   .    "-'' 

indefatigable    thongh    ZZll       T""'  '"'"'«  ^^ 

fonnd  prowlinjr  about  a  verv  hof  ho,i  «#•     .. 

too  Ia..,Mr.  Savage  wc,ra?:;:^r/r?^^^^^^^  Guided  or 

tl'o  .u^picioue  „or.-on  to  bo  Gray.  c  mZITV"  "''"  "^  ^^''P'-^^^.  'ounj 
n  yn-at  favorite  in  ti.e  locality.  His  vclv  '  a  t  '  '  '"'  ^'""^^Qnently  bocan  J 
instuictand  tact  which  led  him  to  d  Imi  !,?  "'  **  c«"^«Piraior-the  ve  ! 
m-t.  a  Buspieious  character  To  pf:^rfu;  he  ^'t't  "^"  ^^^  ^^^  "-v- 
--  l^e  .o.d.  iu  Mure,  either  U^^l^^ir^;-;  ^^-^-ecl 

-   -  -  — .. ,  Kja^oj^B, ' 


330 


FENIAJSr  HEROES  ANB  MAKTTE8. 


if 


His  earnestness,  possibly  his  sufferings  also,  rendered 
liis  appeals  to  tlie  people's  patriotism  irresistible.  At 
last  he  made  his  escape  to  France.  Before  this,  how- 
ever, he  visited  Dublin,  and  determining  to  make  the 
metropolis  the  headquarters  of  his  organization,  he 
called  together  three  respectable  and  intelligent  young 
men,  formerly  members  of  the  Swift  Club,  and,  having 
o-iventhem  the  test,  constituted  the  Provisional  Direc- 
tory  of  his  secret  society. 

*'  Gray  made  his  way  to  Paris.    He  received  some 
assistance  from  his  fellow-exiles  j  but  he  also  endeav- 
ored to  support  himself  by  his  own  exertions.     Hav- 
ing learned  something  of  drawing  earlier  in  life,  nnd 
havinjT  a  natural  taste  for  it,  he  gave  lessons  in  that 
art.    Howevt  \  after  a  stay  of  feome  months  in  Paris, 
he  was  recalled  to  Ireland  in  the  summer  of '49  by 
the  late  James  Pinton  Lalor,  who,  placed  at  the  head 
of  a  new  Directory,  now  virtually  governed  the  secret 
organization.      In    Dublin,    this    Society  numbered 
about  1,000  men,  partially  armed.    In  the  country, 
the  numbers  were  lar  greater. 

"  Gray  immediately  visited  the  various  parts  of  the 
country  in  which  the  organization  had  taken  root. 
His  presence  was  welcomed  everywhere.  I  have  seen 
.  him  welcomed  in  cabins,  by  men  and  women,  as 
though  he  were  some  potent  chief.  By  the  members 
of  the  fraternity  he  was  now  looked  upon  as  a  sort  of 
hero.  Some  were  foolish  enough  to  institute  invidious 
comparisons  between  his  pretensions  and  those  of  IMr. 
Lalor.  Thoughts  were  entertained  about  this  tiino  of 
attempting  to'^rescue  Smith  O'Brien  and  his  compani- 


THOMAS    CLARKE   LUBT. 


331 


ons,  who  were  on  the  point  of  removal  from  tlie  conn- 
try.  A  letter  of  John  Martin  to  Mr.  Lalor  prevented 
the  attempt  from  being  made.  Some  of  the  leaders  of 
the  organization,  among  whom  was  Gray,  subsequently 
meditated  an  outbreak  on  the  occasion  of  the  Queen's 
visit  to  Ireland.  The  affair,  however,  miscarried. 
Finally,  in  Autumn,  an  assembly  of  about  eighteen 
delegates  met  in  Clonmel.  They  decided  that  an 
insurrection  should  take  place  in  September,  and 
elected  a  Committee  of  Defence,  consisting  of  James 
Finton  Lalor,  Joseph  Brenan,  Philip  Gray,  the  present 
writer,  and  another  person,  who,  however,  did  not  act. 
The  committee,  with  the  exception  of  this  person,  met 
at  Clonmel  in  due  time,  and  arranged  that,  on  the 
17th  of  September,  simultaneous  attacks  should  bo 
made  on  Cashel  and  Dungarvan.  Other  movements, 
too,  were  calculated  on. 

"  Various  causes,  however,  disconcerted  the  plans  of 
the  conspirators.  Conspiracies  with  elaborate  pro- 
grammes of  insurrection  seldom,  if  ever,  succeed. 
Formidable  insurrections  must  be  spontaneous,  unpre- 
meditated. The  promised  thousands  failed  to  assem- 
ble  at  the  points  of  rendezvous.  A  miserable  abortive 
scuffle,  indeed,  took  place  at  Cappoquin.  Joseph 
Brenan  was  obliged  to  seek  the  shores  of  America. 
The  present  writer  was  arrested  near  Cashel,  and 
suffered  a  short  imprisonment;  so  did  a  few  other 
young  men.  One  or  two  retired  for  a  time  to  France  j 
and  for  the  Cappoquin  business  a  few  peasants  were 
transported.  All  thouglits  of  insurrection  were  iiow 
given  up.     The  organization  was  virtually  at  an  end ; 


S32 


fENIAN    HEROES    AND   MARTY149. 


I 


II 


Hiul   in  ■Dcc.cmhoT  '49  or  January  '50,  its  most  promi- 
Jicnt  nuMnbor,  James  Finton  Lalor,  expired 

-During-   several  n.onlhs,  loHoNving  tl.e  Cappoqnin 
business,  (,ray  lived  a  precarious  life  in  Dublin   with- 
out proper  means  ofsubsistenee,  without  any  coniibrt- 
able  plaee  of  rest.     His  health,  already  undermined 
by  the  hardships   ho  had   under-one  in  Waterford 
began  to  be  visibly  impaired,     lie  still,  however,  en- 
deavored to  rally  the  oro-anization,  and  even  carried  it 
into    new   places    in    the    County  Dublin ;    but   it 
ianu-uished  nevertheless,  and  at  last  was  formally  dis- 
solved, some  time  in  the  year  1850.     If  it  were  proper 
to  do  so,  I  could  give  many  amusing  details  connected 
WiUi  the  progress  of  this  singular  organization. 

"  Gray,  after  some  time,  procured  a  clerkship  in  the 
office  ot   a  salesmaster  of  Smithtield.     Here   he  re- 
mained for  years,  and  won  the  conlidence  of  his  em- 
ployer hy  his  rare  zeal  and  integrity,  and  remarkable 
talents  lor  business.     *     ^     *     *     But  every  day  his 
liealth  was  becoming  worse  and  worse.     At  leiK^th  on 
the  morning  of  Patrick's  day,  1855,  he  burst  a^lood- 
vessel,  perhaps  in  consequence  of  a  recent  fall.     The 
los^^  ol  blood  was  immense.     After  some  time  he  was 
sufficiently  recovered   to  go  to  the   County  Meatli, 
where  he  spent  a  portion  of  the  summer  with  some 
relations.     He  rallied  so  far,  that  on  the  establishment 
oi  the  national  journal  called  the  Tribune,  in  the  latter 
end  ot  1855,  he  was  able  to  accept  a  situation  in  the 
office  of  that  paper.     The  death  of  the  2rihme  in  the 
early  part  of  185G,  threw  poor  Gray  on  the  world  once  ' 
more,     let  so  great  was  the  force  of  his  mind  that, 


TH0MA8    CLARKE    LUBT. 


333 


in  RiKsli  health  and  circnmsfancea,  ho  commenced 
attending  lectures  on  Chemistry,  at  the  Museum  of 
Industiy,  in  Ste[)hen'8  Green.  With  characteristic 
ardor  he  gave  himself  np  to  this  new  pursuit,  body 
and  soul.  lie  twice,  at  the  examinations,  received  a 
ccrtiticato  for  excellent  answering.  At  intervals  ho 
returned  to  the  olKce  of  his  old  employer,  the  sales- 
master.  To  the  last  he  toiled  beyond  his  strength  for 
his  livelihood.  Part  of  the  summer  he  spent  in  Meath. 
He  suffered  much,  however,  from  poverty,  and  want 
of  pro))er  comfort  and  attention.  In  short,  his  cppa- 
rent  improvement  was  illusory.  In  January,  1857, 
liis  life  ap[)eared  ra})idly  approaching  its  close.  On 
the  18th  he  received  Extreme  Unction,  and  on  the 
night  of  the  25th  of  January,  he  breatiied  his  last. 

"  On  Tuesday,  the  27th,  his  brother,  a  prisoner  of 
'48,  and  a  few  friends  and  associates,  conveyed  his 
remains  by  the  Mullingar  railway  to  the  County 
Meath,  to  be  there  deposited  in  the  burial-place  of  liia 
fathers.  His  paternal  uncle  was  hanged  for  rebellion 
in  '98,  and  his  mother  belonged  to  the  sept  of  tlio 
O'Carrols. 

"  At  the  suggestion  of  some  of  the  Irish  exiles  in 
Paris  in  1840,  who  were  desirous  of  diverting  the 
attention  of  the  police  from  Gray,  in  connection  with 
any  Irish  movement,  Devin  Reilly  published  the  fol- 
lowing announcement  in  his  paper,  the  People,  printed 
in  New  York  in  the  foi'e  ])art  of  '49  : 

"'Mr.  Philip  Gray,  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the 
Swift  Confederate  Club,  who  followed  the  fortunes 
of  O'Mahony  and  Savage  in  Tipperary  and  Water- 


II 


334 


FENIAN   HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


ford,  has  arrived  in  this  country.  Tie  was  with 
Salvage  on  tlic  attack  on  Portlaw,  in  September,  and 
afterwards  made  liis  escape  to  France.  He  merely 
passed  through  this  city,  having,  with  much  .ood 
sense,  immediately  started  for  ihe  West,  hoping  to 
make  it  his  future  home.  We  understand  that  his 
actions  TV  ere  characterized  by  firmness  and  deter- 
nunation,  and  his  comrades  reposed  much  confidence 
in  him.' 

"  Tliis  being  copied  into  the  Tory  papers  in  Ireland, 
had  the  desired  efifect ;  and  Gray  was  the  better  able 
to  make  the  exertion  outlined  above." 


rr 


••  '•.  .•.■  .• 


.■  t'\ 


I-  ■■;^' 


I'  , 


.V" 


•      ■  '•  .      •      1 


•»•*. 


••    •»  * 


I'. 


'■\ 


feV 


i 


r . 


■\ 


4'      • 


■     Km  v.. ..:•...   t:    '.  . 


Lls'.v,  .'jl 


h'.'.:.\    ;.     ... 


ur...',:!,.:,   : 

f I*  <  ^  •  •  * 


JOHN   0  LEAKY, 


335 


% 


JOim  O'LEAKY. 

Tho  Inpplratlon  of  Tippcrary— Homo  Infliienceg— O'Leary  a  Man  of  Means  - 
At  CoUege-aocs  to  Fraiice-To  America  Keluins  to  Loud,  n  and  Ireland- 
EnthuBiaHm  in  the  Irish  Cauae-Spreadlng  tho  Fenian  OrKani/.ation-Tlio 
Iri.ih.  Pe„f,!e-ThQ  8a','acity  with  wliich  it  was  Conducted-Arrosted-In 
Court— The  Trial— Speech  in  the  Loclt-Seutence. 

Sentence  Laving  been  passed  on  Thomas  Clurlco 
Lubj,  the  next  selected  for  a  mock  trial  and  certain 
conviction  was  John  O'Leary.  The  British  Govern- 
ment, in  its  relentless  persecution,  has  recognized  hig 
ability  as  an  editor,  and  his  fidelity  as  a  patriot,  and 
it  has  not  undei-vahied  him  in  either  capacity.  Those 
\vh(i  knew  him  depict  him  as  eminently  a  man  of  de- 
termination, whose  mental  constitution — "clear  and 
brilliant,  manly,  sincere  and  truthful  "—gave  some 
idea  of  those  souls  "  that  rendered  the  Eome  of  an- 
tiquity or  the  Sparta  of  Solon  the  wonder  and  glory 
of  the  world." 

The  O'Leary  sept  are  of  Milesian  descent,  and  have 
held  territory  for  ages  in  the  County  Cork.  It  is  a 
prominent  name  in  Irish  history,  and  the  family  of 
our  hero  have  been  resident  in  the  County  Tipperary ; 
and  in  the  town  of  the  same  name  John  O'Leary  was 
born.     In  that  county  an  active  national  spirit  has  ai- 


~'f3irfnmm<m^jieM!mm 


'^m 


336 


FENIAK  HEE0E8  AND  MARTYRS. 


|r  " 


ways  been  maintained.  There  are  associations  con- 
nectecl  with  tJiat  portion  of  Ireland  which  liave  served 
to  cliensh  pati-iotism,  to  inspire  the  youncr  mind,  and 
conhrin  it  m  devotion  to  the  sacred  canse  of  inde- 
pendence. Sitnated  on  its  lovely  plains  is  the  City  of 
Cashel,  whose  rnins  recall  the  ancient  greatness  of  our 
ancestors— the  story  of  t^,e  leg^^l  murder  of  Father 
bheehy  is  current  among  the  people— in  '98  it  expe- 
rienced the  ruthless  tyranny  of  British  oliicials. 

In  addition  we  are  told  that  "his  home  had  its  own 
traditions  of  patriotism,  and  he  should  have  been  a  false 
Bhoot  of  the  old  stock  of  his  hearth,  if  his  good  heart 
and  brain  were  not  open  to  the  example,  teachIno>and 
Btimulus  of  all  he  derived  IVom  birth  and  locality." 

The  enthusiasm  which  existed  in  Ireland  in  1848 
and  preceding  years,  was  shared  by  young  O'Leary' 
The  close  of  the  '48  movement  left  Ireland  in  a  state 
ol  disorganized  hostility,  and,  until  the  formation  of 
the  Fenian  Brotherhood,  there  was  no  extended  or- 
ganization  which  could  realize  the  patiiot's  desire  of 
Its  being  the  certain  means  of  Ireland's  regeneration. 
Lett  with  ample  means  by  his  parents,  Mr.  O'Leary 
devoted  himself  to  study.     A  naturally  stron-  mind 
was  refined  and  exalted  by  full  culture.     He  looked 
toward  a  profession,  and  chose  that  of  medicine.  With 
the  purpose  of  fitting  himself  for  it  he  \vent  to  Queen's 
College,  Cork;  became  distinguished,  and  after  givinc 
miniistakable  evidence  of  the  national  passion  which 
was  flaking  possessl.ui  of  him,  lie  went  to   France. 
Whether  under  imperial  or  republican  rule,  residence 
in  iu'uuco  has  never  failed  to  coniiiuu  the  modern  pa- 


i 


*    • 


""W 


JOHN   o'lEART. 


337 


ons  con- 
re  served 
ind,  and 
of  inde- 
3  City  of 
33  of  our 

Father 
it  expe- 
s. 

its  own 
n  a  false 
)d  heart 
ino"  and 
litj." 
1  1848, 
>'Le<jiy, 

a  state 
'.tion  of 
ied  or- 
esire  of 
ovation. 
)'Leaiy 
?  mind 
looked 

With 
)ueeu'3 
ffiviiiff 
wliich 
'I'uiice. 
idcncQ 
srn  pa- 


triot in  his  aspirations  after  freedom ;  and  all  that 
U  Learj  saw  in  that  conntry  only  tended  to  make  him 
more  anti-British  than  before. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  when  Mr.  O'Learr 
lolt  trance  and  extended  his  travels  to  the  United 
btates,   tliat    his    whole    soul   was    concentrated    on 
iK^ughts  of  Insh  liberty.     He  was  warmly  received 
by  the  veteran  Irish  patriots  in  this  country,  and  was 
considei^d  a  valuable  member  of  the  "faithful  and 
the  few     who  were  then  laying  the  foundation  of  an 
organization  which  has  since  extended  itself  from  tl- 
Atlantic   to  the   Pacific,  and  has  become   the  most 
formidable  element,  probably,  against  which  England 
Jias  ever  had  to  contend. 

Mr.  O'Leary  became  ardent^    attached  to  America 
andiier  republican  institutions;  and  the  comparison 
between  attairs  here  and  under  the  British  Govern- 
inent,  aftorded  him  many  a  strong  argument  in  favor 
of  fi-eedom  when  he  returned  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence  in  London.     A  gentleman  who  kindly  furnishes 
Boine  interesting  data  lor  this  sketch,  says  he  can  re- 
call    how  ably  in  literary  circles  lie  could  defend  the 
national  cause,  and  demonstrate  Ireland's  claim  to  in- 
de,.endence      One  of  the   many  errors   which   even 
liberal-mmded  Englishmen  entertain  respectino-  Ire, 
laud  IS,  that  her  material  progress  is  of  most  import- 
ance, in  the  hopes  of  accomplishing  which,  she  should 
resign  her  aspirations  after  nationality  and  become 
a  )sorl)ed  with  England.      In  these    |>rincip]es  Mr. 
ULeary  could  never  acrpiiesce.    *  Great,  glorious  and 
Jtfce,  was  his  ideal.    He  knew  that  as  long  as  English 


-^ 


"•^'''TWBgK^!jrr"-w'.?ff>!t'aii1IV^'-  J. 


838 


FENIAN  HEK0E3  AND  MARTYRS. 


Biipremacy  is  maintained,  Ireland  cannot  be  materially 
or  otherwise  happy,  and  that  time  cannot  sanction  in- 
justice. Both  nations  are  too  dissimilar  in  race ;  the 
past  cannot  be  forgotten ;  and  experience  proves  that 
Ireland  will  never  consent  to  be  a  British  province." 

Another  authority  says:  "  lie  returned  to  Ireland 
and  threw  himself  with  great  skill  and  great  zeal  into 
the  work  of  extending  the  Fenian  organization.  Few 
men  of  any  power  of  mind,  of  any  patriotism,  that  he 
met,  were  they  that  were  not  made  sympathizers  with 
the  cause  to  which  he  devoted  himself  as  to  a  sacred 
work.  Keenly  sagacious  and  unfailingly  determined, 
beloved  ard  respected,  he  escaped  the  iVrgus  eyes  of 
the  police  unbetrayed,  and  became  the  very  right  hand 
jnan,  it  is  said,  of  the  attempt,  according  to  Her  Ma 
jesty's  Attorney-General,  to  subvert  the  throne  and 
constitution  in  Ireland." 

When  the  Irish  People  was  established,  to  be  the 
organ  of  Fenianism,  Stephens  selected  O'Leary  as  the 
conductor;  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  far-sighted  sa- 
gacity which  controlled,  not  only  O'Leary,  but  those 
having  authority  in  the  management  of  that  journal, 
the  following  from  the  Shamroclc  will  be  in  place, 
especially  to  those  who  have  not  had  an  opportunity 
of  reading  the  articles  alluded  to  :  "  The  most  careful 
supervision  was  exorcised  over  its  'leaders'  and  over  its 
letters;  for,  whilst  the 'leaders'  generally  dealt  with 
the  principles  admitted  by  the  constitution  of  lOSS, 
the  letters  dealt  with  Feninnl^m,  with  the  hostility 
which  it  met  from  priests  and  bishops,  and  in  this  way 
tried  out  the  question  hy  two  modes,  arguing  the 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MARTYRS. 


339 


5) 


cause  of  Fenianism,  and  spreadino;  its  principles  in 
spite  of  the  law.  A  remarkable  testiiuony  to  the  skill 
with  which  this  was  done,  is  to  be  found  in  the  cir- 
cnnistance  that  the  leading  jonrnal  of  hi^^h  Catholic 
opinion  in  England  nsed  to  qnote  the  leaders  of  the 
Irisfi  Peojple,  very  frequently  as  the  text  and  gospel 
of  Irish  politics,  and  several  Irish  daily  journals,  in- 
cluding the  Hail,  also  took  the  same  course.  It  is 
asserted,  with  what  authority  we  know  not,  that  many 
of  the  *  leaders '  were  submitted  to  counsel  prior  to 
their  appearance,  and  that  no  doubtful  com])osition 
"Was  ever  suffered  to  be  printed  witliout  being  subject 
to  that  precaution." 

It  is  believed  that,  but  for  the  inforaiation  of  the 
infiimous  Xagle,  who  described  the  People  office  as  a 
Bort  of  chief  bivouac  of  the  organization,  the  Govern- 
ment would  not  have  convicted  the  writers  for  their 
contributions  to  the  paper  alone.  As  it  is,  however, 
no  one  connected  with  it  has  escaped  penal  servitude. 

Mr,  OlLeary  was  arrested  at  his  residence,  Palmer- 
eton  Place.  lie  was  arraigned  on  the  1st  December, 
while  the  jury  on  Luby's  case  were  consulting.  On 
their  return  he  was  remanded,  and  brouoht  to  trial  the 
next  day.  He  w^as  dressed,  as  usual,  in  dark  clothes ; 
and  as  he  advanced  to  the  bar,  every  eye  in  court  was 
turned  towards  him.  The  judges  whispered  their 
comments,  whilst  they  noticed  him  curiously  as  he 
took  his  position  in  the  dock  of  destiny.  Every  avail- 
able space  wag  filled  with  ladies,  "friends  of  the 
prisoner."  Ills  sister,  by  special  request  was  permit- 
ted to  sit  by  him  in  front  of  the  dock,  where  she  might 


340 


JOHN   o'lEAJBY. 


i'    ^ii 


converse  with  liim.     Being  askod  in  the  iisnal  forin- 
ixlitj  of  Biitisli  hiw,  "  Are  you  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  " 
lie  rc[)lied,  "  It  is  the  Government  of  tlie  country,  the 
Crown  prosecutors,  the  J^arrys  and  IS'a'^les  ^vlio  are 
guilty,  and  not  I."     They  inquire,  "  Arc  you  ready 
for  trial  ?  "     He  answers,    "  I   must   be   ready — the 
Crown  is  ready!"    and,   accordingly,  the  trial  pro- 
ceeds.    Mr.   Butt  vainly  seeks  to  have  an  impartial 
jury  empanelled  ;  the  Attorney-Genera,l  speaks  i'or  the 
Crown  ;    the  informer  Nagle,  and  the  spy  Schoiield 
(sent  there  by  the  British  Ouisul  at  New  York,)  gave 
their  evidence.     Mr,  Butt,  in  an  able  and  argumeuta^ 
tive  address,  defends  O'Leary.     One  incident  alone  of 
the  trial  will  show  the  intensity  of  his  devotion  to  the 
principles  for  which  he  was  to  suffer.     During  Mr. 
Butt's  address  he  alluded  to  the  Irish  Fsople  news- 
paper  in   a   manner   which   might   be   consti-ued    as 
speaking  discreditably  of  it,     Mr.  O'Leary,  interrupt- 
ing him,  said  he  wished  to  make  an  observation.     J\[r. 
Butt,  zeahnis  for  the  safety  of  his  client,  threatened  if 
he  did  so  to  sit  down.     But   O'Leary  persisted,  say- 
in: 


r> 


"  I  must  interrupt  yon  for  a  momput.  I  olijoot-to  liavin,!^  it 
slated  that  discredit  should  be  atlaclied  to  me  for  my  conneclioii 
\villi  the  Irish  People,  or  to  let  it  be  supposed  for  a  moment  that 
1  consider  it  discreditable  to  have  beea  connected  with  that 
paper." 

As  Mr.  Butt  had  no  snch  mtentlon,  ho  contlnucil 
Ills  address,  but  Mr.  O'Leary  was  ready  to  sacrifice  rh.o 
possible  effect  of  that  eminent  counsel's  speech,  rather 


T^s 


FENUN   HEROES   AND  M.VETYES. 


341 


tlian  have  liis  associate's  reputation  apjDarcntly 
iin[)i)giiecl. 

It  appears  tliat  O'Leaiy  was  put  upon  liis  trial  on 
Monday,  4th  October,  before  lie  had  his  breakfast,  and 
one  of  his  counsel  said  he  was  being  starved.  This 
was  denied  by  the  Crown,  and  the  proceedings  were 
suspended  while  the  prisoner  took  some  refreshment. 

On  the  6th,  the  jury  found  the  prisoner  guilty  on 
all  the  counts,  and  in  rei)ly  to  the  usual  question, 
O'Loary— his  form  dilating,  and  his  manner  animated 
to  a  tone  of  scathing  and  rebuke — said : 


"My  Lords,  I  was  not  wholly  anpreparec!  for  this.  I  felt  that 
a  Government  who  had  so  safely  packed  the  bench,  would  not  bo 
Unlikely  to  obtain  a  verdict." 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald—"  We  are  willing  to  hear  you,  but  wo 
cannot  Ullow  language  of  that  kind  to  be  used. " 

Prisoner— "  Very  well.  Mr.  Luby  declined  to  tou.'h  upon  fhig 
from  a  very  natural  fear  that,  he  miglit  do  harm  to  some  of  Iho 
other  prisoners  ;  but  there  can  be  little  fear  of  that  now,  for  a  jury 
that  could  be  found  to  convict  me  of  this  conspiracy,  will  convict 
them  all.  Mr.  Luby  admitted  that  he  was  technically  guilty 
according  to  that  highly  elastic  instrument,  British  law,  but  I  did 
not  think  that  th(jse  men  there  "  (pointing  to  the  Crown  counsel,) 
"  couid  make  that  case  against  me.  And  this  brings  me  naturally 
to  the  subject  upon  which  there  has  been  much  misrepresentatioa 
in  Ireland — I  mean  the  subject  of  informers.  Mr.  Justice  Kco-di 
eaid  in  his  charge  against  Mr.  Luby  that  men  would  be  found 
ready  for  money,  or  some  other  motive,  to  place  themselves  at  the 
disposiv!  of  the  (Tovernmenl  and  u»a.ke  known  the  designs  of  a  con- 
epiracy.  :^•;'Mloubt ;  men  will  be  always  found  ready  lor  money 
to  phi'o  fiMmselves  at  the  disposal  of  the  Government,  but  T  tliiiilc 
it  is  agiiaiors,  and  not  rebels,  who  have  bet^n  generally  bought  ill 
this  way— who  have  certainly  uiade  the  best  bargaina.    t  have  to 


342 


JOHN  o'lEARY. 


e-'i 


h 


s:iy  nno  word  In  refercnco  to  the  foul  charge  upon  which  that 
niisorable  oian,  Bnny,  lias  mnde  mc  responsibk; " — 

Mr.  Jaslice  Filzgcrald — "  We  cauuot  allow  that  tone  of  observa- 

tJOll." 

The  Prisoner — "  That  nmn  has  charged  mr — I  need  not  defend 
myself  or  my  friends  from  the  charge — I  shall  merely  deuounco 
the  moral  assassin.  J\li\  Justice  Keogh  the  other  day  spoke  of 
revolutions,  and  administered  a  lecture  to  Mr.  Luby.  lie  spoka 
of  cattle  being  driven  away,  and  of  houses  being  burnt  down,  that 
men  would  be  killed,  and  so  on.  I  should  like  to  know  if  all  that 
does  not  apply  to  war  as  well  as  to  revolution  ?  One  word  more 
and  I  shall  have  done.  I  have  been  found  guilty  of  treason,  or  of 
treason-ulony.  Treason  is  a  foul  crime.  The  poet  Dante  con- 
signs traitors  to,  I  believe,  the  ninth  circle  of  Hell ;  but  what  kind 
of  traitors'}  Tr.Hors  against  the  King,  against  country,  against 
friends,  and  against  benefactors.  England  is  not  my  country.  I 
have  betrayed  no  friend,  no  benefactor,  Sidney  and  Emmet  were 
legal  traitors.  Jeffreys  was  a  loyal  man,  so  was  Norbury,  I  Icavo 
the  latter  there." 

In  the  course  of  his  homily  to  the  prisoner,  .Tudgo 
ritzL^crald  took  occasion  to  remind  him  tliat  a  person 
of  his  education  and  ability  oni>;lit  to  have  known  that 
t]ie  o;ame  upon  which  he  entered  was  a  des]>erate  and 
wortliless  one. 

Tlie  Prisoner— "  Kot  worthless." 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzircrald — "  You  oup^ht  to  have  known 
<7ils,  that  insurrection  or  revolution  in  this  country 
irieant  not  war  only,  but  a  war  of  extermination." 

The  Prisoner — "  It  meant  no  such  thing." 

lie. was  then  sentencfrl  to  twenty  years  penal  servi- 
tude, lie  heard  it  with  fortitude,  nobly  sustained  by 
the  sister  wdio  sat  contemplating  him  with  pride. 

O'Leary  was  President  of  the  Is^ational  Brotherhoocl 


PENIAlf   HEROES   AND  MARTYE3. 


343 


of  St.  Ptiti'ick,  cstahlished  in  the  town  of  Tlppcrarv. 
He  was  not  at  the  time  a  permanent  resident  in  the 
town,  and  the  position  was  mainly  honorary,  conlerred 
in  recognition  of  his  devotion  to  the  National  cause. 


.Ilk 


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JEBEMIAU   0'lX)N0ViLN   (kosSa), 


JEREMAII   0'DO]S"OVAK  (EOSSA). 

Birth  and  Early  StrnffgleB-GoeB  to  Skibbereen-National  VlewB  of  Pon^a  and 
M  Moynahan-StarlB  the Pha..ix  Society-Its  Character a.ul Pro.  e.B-  He" "-, 
the  Pea.e-Mongers-Kevival  Throughout  Cork  and  Kerry-  Me^  u-r.  of  tl  o 

f  ^Sl  Lh  rhutlf  ;•   ""'^T^   ^"^'^^"-^  ^^'"victed-'cork  PrZe  l  Of! 
I  red  L.l    Uy  hut  Kcfuse  Unless  Ayreeni  is  Liberated  also-Ko^.a  Preverta 

A  MOST  passionately  persistent  organizer  and  worlcev 
out  of  jai],  and  an  unbendiiicr  and  defiant  patriot  in 
Ins  cliams,  is  tlie  man  wiiose  name  Iieads  tliis  sketch 
His  career  is  calculated  to  encourage  his  countrvmen' 
and  to  show  what  may  be  achieved  by  an  earnest 
man. 

Porn  of  humble  parentage,  in  the  ancient  and  his- 
tone  town  of  Eoscarbery,  in  the  southern  part  of 
Cork,  m  the  year  1830,  young  O'Donovan  had  such 
opportunities  for  education  as  the  village  school 
afforded,  and  tliis,  limited  as  it  was,  was  cut  short 
when  about  sixteen  yenrs  old,  by  the  deatli  of  his 
father,  who  was  a  weaver.  The  boy  went  to  Skib- 
bei-een  and  became  a  member  of  the  family  of  liia 
uncle,  where  he  remained,  contributing  to  the  support 
oi  his  mother  and  his  younger  brothers  and  sisters. 


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FENUH  HEE0E3  AND  MAE1TE8.  345 

iintil  he  went  into  business  for  Iiimself.     In  1849  an 
eM^r  brother  .une  to  A.nerica,  and  in  son.  tl  :: 

«ho,  proceeJ,ng  on  the  route  as  far  as  Cork,  tur„c,l 

the  old  land.     II,s  licart  jearned  to  her  and  the  hopes 
of  her  treedom,  and  he  de.ern.ined  to  watch  and  wait 
Tins  detenmnation  led  to  rema^'kable  and  widely  1^ 
torieal  resnlts.  vvJu^iJ  nis- 

O'Donoyan  married  and  settled  to  business.     The 
eflorts  ot  July  and  Septeu,ber,  1848,  had  proved  ab    ! 

year,  was  scarcely  heard  of,  except  by  important  n. 
tionalists;  the  plans  of  Imton  Lalor,  ifreZ'nd  ,.0^: 
conirades  as  sketched  by  Lnby,  had  con,e  to  no,,  • 
the  Keoghs  and  the  Sadliers  were  rising  on  the  n,  ,1,' 
ot  the  nat,ona,ists,  wl,en  a  few  yonng''men  in  S 
bereen  detern„ned  to  stir  up  the  e.nbe™  of  the  nat  n- 
al  ca  se  and  keep  it  aliye,  even  if  in  a  smoulder  ,1 

school  tor  five  years  m  Gleugariffe,  took  up  his  resi- 
de«.=e  m  Sk,bbereen  in  1856;  and' soon  affer  hi  ai 
rival  O  Donovan  and  he,  having  exchanged  view  Tu 
the  matter,  and  being  Joined  by  so„,e  congenial  spW^f 
deeded  on  organizing  a  Society.  The  Emmet  Mom  ' 
meiit  Associalion  was  in  bcing'in  America,  and  they  ' 
thought  they  could  perhaps  put  themselves  n  coimnif 
mcation  uith  it,  and  be  the  means  of  intercha       ,t 

tens'  blv  a  ll  '^-  *''""  '""""^  "'  18".  ^"^  os- 

tensibly a  literary  socety,  similar,  in  most  respects, 


1)1 


V 


346 


JEREMUH   o'doNOVAN   (eo88A). 


.;■   li 


to  tliosc  for  mutual  instrnction  and  debate  whidi  are 
so  common.     TJie  name,  "Phoenix  National  and  Lit- 
erary Society,"  was  sno^gested  by  O'Donovan,  as  he 
said  they  mtended  to  rise  trom  the  ashes  of  apathetic 
political  huckstering,  which  then  covered  the  land 
Ihere  was  no  oath,  but  the  members  took  a  pled-e  ini 
dicative    of   the    object-the    resuscitation,   ever   so 
slowly,   of  national   life   in   Ireland.     The   meetino-a 
were  duly  held,  and  the  Pha3nix  Society  spread  itself 
rapidly  mto  the  adjacent  towns.     It  had  considerable 
antagonists  to  encounter,  as  it  met  no  favor  from  the 
clergy,  whom  it  did  not  court;  nor  from  the  political 
agitators,  whom  it  condemned ;  nor  from  the  traders 
who  regarded  it  as  a  baud  of  disturbers  ;  nor  from  the 
farmers    "who  thought  of  little  save  high  prices" 
Its  local  repute  was  that  of  persons  holding  extreme 
radical  views  on  Irish  questions ;  and  this  was  brought 
into  stdl  wider  notice  by  a  meeting  held  in  1858-at 
the  time  of  the  Indian  meeting-at  which  resolutiona 
and  an  inflammatory  address  were  passed.     "  On  the 
publication  of  these  documents,"  writes  Mr.  Moyna-" 
han,  «  the  little  shoneen  shop  keepers  banned  us  as  a 
lot  of  firebrands,  and  threatened  with  dismissal  such 
ot  their  employes  as  would  any  longer  continue  to  be 
members  of  the  Society.     For  these  reasons  the  Socie- 
ty dwindled  down  to  a  few  members,  Mdien  Stephens 
made  his  appearance.     He  had  some  time  before  that 
come  from  France,  had  been  teaching  French  in  lul- 
larney  and  elsewhere,  and  had  commenced  organizino- 
a  secret  Society."     Stephens  arrived  on  a  Thursday? 
U  L>onovan  was  initiated  on  the  next  day,  and  Moy- 


I 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTTES. 


347 


nalian  on  tlie  day  following.  Thence  the  flame  spread, 
and  before  six  weeks  the  new  organization  numbered 
between  two  and  tliree  hundred,  all  Phoenix  men. 

In  a  short  time  it  was  pushed  into  Bantrj,  Ken- 
mare,  Killariiey,  Castletown,  Berehaven,  Dunmanna- 
way,  Clonakilty,  and  Macroom  by  the  Skibbereen 
men,  and  into  Kinsale  and  Cork  by  equally  energetic 
brothers.  Moynahan,  who  was  connected  with  a  so- 
licitor, and  used  to  accompany  him  to  the  Sessions  and 
Assizes,  took  these  occasions  for  propagating  the  order 
which  he  did  as  far  off  as  Eilorglin  in  Kerry ;  while 
O'Donovan  worked  with  great  energy  about  Skibbe- 
reen and  Eoscarbery. 

They  progressed  so  rapidly  in  numbers  and  spirit 
that  an  Irish-American  v.-as  s  vt  to  give  them  military 
mstrnction.  Their  drilling  became  known,  and  the 
authorities,  becoming  apprehensive  of  trouble,  sent  an 
additional  force  of  105  men  to  Skibbereen,  60  to 
Bantry,  and  a  considerable  number  to  Kenmare.  The 
attention  thus  given  to  the  Phoenix  Society,  as  it  was 
still  called,  attracted  the  inquiry  of  some  journalists- 
and  a  discussion  ensued  which  drew  letters  from' 
O'Donovan  and  others,  which,  of  course,  tended  to 
keep  up  the  excitement. 

Meanwhile  a  clergyman  of  Kenmare,  who  had  got 
possession  of  some  facts  relating  to  the  society  con- 
veyed  the  same  to  the  Government ;  as  a  consequence 
the  Government  made  a  descent  on  the  Society  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  8th  December,  1858,  twelve 
persons  were  arrested  in  Skibbereen,  four  in  Bantry 
twelve  in  Kenmare,  and  three  in  Killarney.     After 


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FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


being  confined  for  some  weeks,  several  of  tlie  Cork 
prisoners  were  discliurged,  but  true  bills  were  found 
aivainst  Mortimer  Moynaluui,  William  O'Sliea,  Denis 
Sullivan,  Mortimer  Downin-  Daniel  MeCartie,  Jere- 
miah  O'Donovan  (Rossa),  and  Patrick  Downing,  for 
treason-felony.     An  innnediate  trial  was   souglit  for 
them,  by  counsel,  but,  on  motion  of  the  Attorney- 
General,  it  was  postponed  to  the  next  Assizes.     An 
application  to  be  admitted  to  bail  was  referred  to  the 
Queen's  Bench,  and  failed.     At  the  Tralee  Assizes  Mv. 
Daniel  O'Sullivan  (Agreom)  was  convicted  by  a  packed 
jury,  and  thus  became  the   first  victim  of  the  new 
national  organization.     Again  the  Cork  prisoners  un- 
successfully  api)lied  to  the  Queen's  Bench  for  release 
on  bail ;  and  about  the  same  time  a  proposition  was 
made  by  the  Crown  counsel  to   the  counsel  for  the 
prisoners,  that  if  the  latter  would  withdraw  their  first 
plea,  and  plead  guilty,  they  would  be  liberated.     This 
Eossa  and  his  comrades  declined.     The  Government 
then  ap'proached  them  with  another  proposition — that 
if  Eossa  and  Moyiudian  consented  to  leave  the  coun- 
try, the  others  would  be  liberated.     On  consultation 
the  prisoners  agreed  to  enter  into  no  compromise  with 
the  Government.     A  few  mornings  subseque-   !y,  some 
further  liberations  took  place,  and  Eossa,  Moynahan, 
and  O'Shea,  were  all  the  "Phoenix  men"  who  re- 
in ^Mned  in  Cork  jail.     After  keeping  them  in  prison 
for  eight  months,  the  Government  found  it  could  not 
convict  them;  and   finally  Eossa  and   his  associates 
agreed  to  plead  guilty  and  be  liberated,  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  O'Sullivan,  who  had  been  convicted, 
Bhould  also  be  set  free. 


JEREMua  o'dokovan  (rossa).  349 

Kossa-^as  he  was  now  called— had  a  positive  influ- 
ence over  the  men  of  his  nei^irhborhood.     His  course 
on  the  niarriaire  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  illustrates  it. 
Souie  of  tlie  "  gentry  "  of  Skibbcreen  had  determined 
to  honor  the  great  event  in  the  life  of  the  heir-apparent, 
and  several  of  a  club,  of  which  Rossa  was  a  member' 
illuminated  the  club-room.     On  hearing  it,  he  went  to 
the  house  and  called  a  meeting  of  the  club  to  protest 
against  the  celebration ;  but  as  none  others  attended 
it,  he  decided  that  the  illumination  v/as  contrary  to 
the  wish  of  the  members,  and  immediately  tore  down 
the  flags  and  banners.     By  this  time,  others  of  the 
members  interfered.     He,  however,  nothing  daunted, 
canic^d  out  Ills  object,  and  prevented  the  celebration! 
The  people,  hearing  of  the  occurrence,  rallied  to  hia 
aid,  and  a  grand  meeting  was  called,  which  he  ad- 
dreH:^cd  to  their  satisfaction. 

At  the  time  of  the  Polish  insurrection,  too,  he 
headed  a  meeting  and  procession  in  honor  of  that 
noble  r;ico ;  and,  having  obtained  some  banners,  they 
paraded  the  streets  of  the  town.  Some  of  the  banners 
being  national  in  theh'  design,  the  police  interfered, 
and  all  save  one  were  obliged  to  be  dispensed  with. 
This  one  was  a  puzzle  to  the  jjolice;  it  being  thrct 
cornered,  and  having  no  device,  they  were  allowed  to 
use  it,  and  thus  carried  out  their  intentions  despite 
opposition. 

Scarcely  a  week  passed  that  there  was  not  some 
attempt  made  to  injure  Rossa  in  his  business  ;  but  he 
would  not  be  crushed— petty  persecution  could  only 
intensify  his  hate  of  the  power  that  suggested  it.     The 


I 


i^^ 


350 


FKNIAJI   HEROICS  AKt)  MARTYRfl, 


Btm^r-Io,  however,  wns  an  uiiotinal  one.  Tn  1802  lio 
came  to  New  ^'oi-k,  l,ut  in  a  few  inontliB  was  recalled 
to  Ireland  by  the  death  of  his  wife. 

Of  course,  liis  relations  with  Stephens,  Lnby,  and 
the  other  chief  men,  were  resumed,  and  on  the  start- 
ino;  of  the  In^k  People  he  became  one  of  the  ren<is- 
tered  proprietors,     lie  was  one  of  the  tirst  captni^d, 
and  was  brou-ht  to  trial  at  the  Dublin  Commission 
on  the  0th  l)(>c(Mnber,  1805.     On  the  next  mornino. 
Kossa  interrupted  the  Court  to   say  that,  as  he  be- 
lieved the  Crown  was  deterniincd  to  convict  hi.n,  his 
trial  was  a  le-al  farce,  and  that  he  would  not  be  a 
party  to   it   by  bein<r   rei)rcsentcd    hy  counsel.     He 
could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  a(!cept  legal  advice,  but 
conducted  his  own  defence,  which  led  to  some  extra- 
ordinary scenes  in  Court,  and  some  bitter  passajres 
between  the  prisoner  and  Judge  Keogh.     The  more 
the  latter  hemmed  himself  within  the  walls  of  privi- 
lege, the  more  O^Donovan  was  defiant,  or  satirical, 
as  the  occasion  suggested.     He  persisted  in  badgerinc^ 
the  Court  and  ministers,  and  in  thoroughly  exploding 
the  legal  farce.     As  he  said  in  reply  to  Judge  Ficz'- 
gerald,  "  Tv/enty  years  "  (the  term  of  servitucfe  given 
to  his  associates)  "  is  a  long  time,  and  I  want  to  fpend 
a  couple  of  days  as  best  I  can." 

At  the  opening  of  the  Court  on  the  12th— the  third 
day— when  again  put  forward  and  called  upon  for  his 
defence,  Rossa  asked  if  he  could  have  the  privilec^e  of 
ncldressing  the  jury  on  the  evidence  produced  against 
linn  by  the  Crown.  Judge  Keogh  read  the  act  of 
Parliament  for  him,  by  which  he  was  entitled  to  open 


' 


. 


■I! 


Ji:RKMiAn  o'donovan  (kossa). 


! 


351 

'us  own  cnso;  and,  if  ]io  called  any  wltncs.^ca  for  Iiis 
<l^ionco,  to  Buui  up  after,  or  speak  to  evidence. 

The  prisoner  then  spoke  at  consi.loral.lc  longtl.,  thouirl,  not  in  a 
lu-ct  or  (^onsocutive  manner,  animadverting  <,„  tl.o  JmrsLness  gf 
the  Qovcrnm.-nt  towards  him.     Referring  to  the  j.iry,  he  said  :  Ti.o 
Attorne^'-General  ha.s  ordered  thirty  gnUlemen  to  stand  hv,  and 
no  doubt  h.  considered  tlie  present  jury  pc-rsons  who  would  brin<. 
■J  the  yei-diet  he  wished.     That  observation  might  not  be  com! 
.Innc-ntury  to  the  jury,  but  lie  could  not  help  it.     The  Exccutivo 
Oovmnnent  had  taken  harsh  measures  against  the  prisoners-had 
y.')lared  all  law,  and  had  had  recourse  to  dark  courses  of  despot, 
isrru     It  trial  by  jury  prevented  a  n.an  from  saying  that  freedom 
might  be  /ought  tor,  it  was  a  m(>re  bulwark  of  tyranny      Tho 
pn'hmniaries  had  been,  he  contetuled,  so  arranged  as  to  deny  him 
a  tair  tnal.     The  papers  had  published  articles  condemning  all  tho 
prisoners  bc-fore  they  were  tried.      lie  admitted  he  had  proceeded 
to  America  under  the  name  of  O'Donnell,  but  it  was  on  mcrcantilo 
business ;    that  name  ho  had  assumed  in  order  to  prevent  hia 
polUieal  friends  lh..re  from  showering  welcoming  receptions  upon 
him.     He  returned  not  as  07)onnell,  but  in  his  proper  name  as 
O  Donovan.     Th<.  only  crime  he  had  committed  was  tliat  he  had 
known  James  Stephens,  John  O'Mahony,  J.  O'Leary,  and  Lubv 
He  was  proud  to  know  them.     He  wished  the  reporters  to  (a^ 
down  that  m  the  iv-gister  of  the  United  States  Govcrnnu.nt  of  tho 
27th  ol  August,  I80:j,  his  oath  of  American  citizenship  would  bo 
found  recorded.      After  a  violent  attack  on  Judge  Keoo-h    the 
prisoner  said,  whatever  might  be  the  result  of  tliis  trial,  hc^  enlcr! 
ained  no  animosity  against  any  person,  from  Nagle,  the  informer 
to  Mr.  Barry,  or  the  judges  on  the  bench.     He  thought  it  wouli 
do  gocKl  in  England  to  show  the  sort  of  trial  we  had  in  this  coun- 
try.    It  there  was  any  gentleman  belonging  to  the  Continental 
press  m  Court,  lie  hoped  he  would  take  down  the  woix^s  of  tho 
I.ond(m  Times  of  the  14th  of  November :   "  Treason  is  a  sciious 
thing,  and  these  men  are  undoubtedly  guilty  of  it."     The  re-xdinn- 
ol  papers  and  docmnents  by  the  prisoner  at  this  stage,  occupiel 


f*1 


sr>2 


FENIAN  nEnoT:9  ANn  jrAiiTvnfl. 


Rf'l 


ul)()vr  two  hours.     Ju(lg(>  Kcogl),  IIicti  rrfus.-d  fo  allcu-  l.i.n  to  pro. 
<-<v(l  wifli  tl„!  n'mlin^'ofun  Hflliliivil  wl.i.li  hud  boim  Hworn  In  thd 
rums.M.r  Ihcaclioiia-iiiust,  (ho  Lorcl-Licuicnaut,  on   tho  ^rr(M„i,l 
lliat   tiK!  piihlic  lirno  could   not   bo   fVittcud   awiiy,    wh(r..up..ii 
O'Donovan  oxclainuul,   •'  The  tinu)  of  the  public  Iuvh  larn  given  U> 
Uy  nu.."    The  Ibicnmn  of  the  Jury  ulso  asked  that  tlie  prisoner 
bliould  mark  the  documents  for  their  consideration,  and  not  read 
them ;  but  he  answered  that  he  had  laid  down  a  course  for  hin'- 
sclf,  in  consequence  of  the  way  in  which  ho  had  been  treated  since 
ho  liad  l)(!en  sent  to  pri«)n,  wlu(;h  ho  could  not  depart  from.     IIh 
then  read  nearly  a  hundred  pages  of  small  print,  referring  to  llu! 
Constitution,  organization,  and  procccnlings  of  the  Chicago  Con- 
venlion;  as  to  which.  Judge  Iv.-ogh  said,  when  the  pristmer  had 
concluded:   "It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  remark  to  the  public 
iu<"ss  the  grave  responsibility  that  would  attm^li  to  the  publication 
of  the  document  which  the  prisoner  luis  read,    under  the  pretext 
that  it  would  fonn  a  necessary  noition  of  l,is  (h-fciice."     The  pri- 
soner said  his  object  in  reading  the  document  was  to  show  that 
there  was  nothing  in  the  Clucago  Convention  docunu-nts  referring 
to  liim.     He  afterwards  read  several  articles  from  the  Irish  Peo- 
2)h\am]  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  wis  still  conlinuing  his 
readings,  without  any  api>eurance  of  weariness.     At  this  hour  the 
judges  directed  that  thdr  own  diiuiers,  and  those  of  the  jurynien, 
should  be  brought  down  to  Court;  and  it  was  undcTstood  that  the 
sitting  A\ould  be  a  late  one,  in  onier  that,  if  possible,  the  prisoner 
should  tinish  his  first  speech  that  night.     The  prisoner  asked  if 
the  Court  would  not  adjourn  as  usual,  as  he  had  now  been  reading 
for  several  hours,  and  was  weaiied  out.     Tlie  only  answer  lie 
received,  was,  to  proceed  with  Ins  defence.     He  then  ottered  to 
read  some  passages  from  the  InM  J\'opf.e,  but  Judge  Keogh 
would  not  permit  him  to  read  anything  that  was  not  specified  In 
th.'  indictment.     He  lia.i  tinnounced  liis  intention  to  examine  a 
wilness  to  show  tluil  his  visit  to  America  was  in  reference  to  com- 
mercial matters;  but  after  some  further  reading  of  the  documents 
before  him,  he  announced  that  he  could  proceed  no  further  wiih- 
out  the  papers  kept  back  by  the  Crown.     He  then  sat  down,  hav- 
ing occupied  nearly  eight  hours  in  reading. 


JKltJiMIAU   o'dOxNOVAN    (u088A).  353 

l^Z  '1T'7\  '"'^"  l'^"^'^  '''''''''  "-  ^"-7.  ^'"^"^  "Hor 
Miuiry  on  all  llio  c(jiints." 

ISM    „  '         "  ""'  """""•■'  ""•  "  «"""'"•  "f™cc  in  July 

"I'o..  the  Clerk  of  the  Cro wa  to  enter  tl  1  f l-n,  •         '^  '"'^ 

the  record."  '""'"'  conviction  upon 

JudgoKeogh-'TIasthc  prisoner  anything  to  sav  with  mfn,. 
ei.ce  to  pleading  guilty  to  this  previous  J.ar.^oV''      ^  " 

s  J  mJ^' wn;'~i  '  "r  '''  '''  ^'"^'  "'^'  l"'^^''-«  on  tLat-ocra. 
sion  Mr.   Whit.iaide,  who  was  a  member  of  tl.o  n-.r..    n 

n.™,,  ,„,i,„„.„u  t.«.  w„  w„„M  ,0  ic.  „;  "r,,":  fir: 

but  we  would  not  do  anything  „f  the  kind      Ti.Tn  ^ ' 

then  oflercd  to  le,  Danid  0'S,dlil  M '  ™ L  J''"  «-"""'-•"« 

guilty.    Wo  refused  to  do  so  atZ  hu    .«  ,        ""''"'' 

v^  , ,  "  "'''  "''*'^>  I'lit  afterwards  conscntori 

You  may  add  anything  you  please  to  the  sentence  you  t^^  a    ui 
to  pass  upon  me."  ^  ^"^^^ 

Thejudges  here  retired  from  tho  bench  to  consider  their  sen 
tence,  and,  during  then-  absence,  Miss  O'Leary  stretched  he   ha    j 
down  from  the  reporters'  galleiy  to  take  a  last  fareweU  of  th« 
prisoner.     He  caught  he  hand  and  shook  it  warmly  '''" 

On  the  return  of  thejudges,  the  prisoner  was  asked  if  ho  had 
any  hu,g  to  say  why  judgment  should  not  bo  passed  upon  h  m 

He  rei^.ed---  With  the  fact  that  the  Govemmont  seized  pTpers 
connected  w.h  my  defence,  and  perhaps  examined  them;  wUU 
th    fac  that  the  Government  packed  the  jury;  and  with  thoT  ^ 
that  the  jury  said  yesterday  that  they  considered  me  "- 
The  Court—'*  We  cannot  allow  this  language  " 

kIm.  iTr  V?  "^'"t  '^'  ''^^  "'"*  *^«  Government  sent  Jud^o 
Keogh,  of  the  Norbmy  breed,  to  try  me-wlth  those  facts  befo^o 
me,  I  could  not  say  anything."  ^ 


m 

ft 

m 

i 

«, 

ii  ' 

i     ■    ' 

m\  • 

i     ■ 

1 

•    ' 

> 

j!  ■■ 

1^1 

•1       : 


354 


FENIAN    IfEROES    AND   MABTITBft 


"  Yon  have  bocn  connected  with  this  trftnsactton  since  1803," 
Bald  Ko()<i;h. 

"I  am  an  IriHlirnan  since  1  was  boni,"  replied  ftosaa. 

*♦  I  will  not  waste  words  by  atteni|)Un^'  to  bring  tlic  heinousnesi 
of  the  crime  of  which  you  were  fomid  guilty,  to  your  mind,"  cott- 
tbiucd  Keogh. 

**!t  would  1)0  useless  to  try,"  tauntingly  said  the  prisoner. 

The  wrathful  and  goaded  Judge  sentenced  hia  victim  to  I'cual 
Servitude  for  Life. 

"  All  right,"  he  exclaimed,  defiantly  ;  and,  turning  to  leave  tUe 
dock,  saluted  i  number  of  ladies. 

The  same  defiant  and  resolute  spirit  has  aocnrnpa- 
nied  the  sturdy  patriot  into  prison.  The  authoritiea 
havcMabored,  by  putting  hiui  at  tlio  most  lunthsomo 
duties,  and  by  treatment  of  the  harsliest  kiiul ;  by 
bodily  chastisement,  and  tlie  starvation  system  known 
as  the  "lifrhtening  process,"  to  break  him  down  ;  but 
he  is  indomitable,  and  will  only  succumb  to  deuth. 

Of  the  Phoenix  prisoners  who  have  adhered  to  tho 
old  cause,  or  won  distinction  since,  a  few  para<;riii)]i8 
will  not  be  out  of  place.  William  O'Shea,  a  nativo 
of  Bantry,  came  to  the  United  States  after  his  release, 
and  put  himself  in  communication  with  the  leadiuf* 
nati(malist3.  lie  became  one  of  a  Committee  of  Safe- 
ty which  was  in  being  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  Oi^ 
ganization.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war 
O'Shea  entered  the  42d  regiment,  N.  Y.  Y.,  as  a  pri- 
vate, lie  saved  himself  at  the  Ball's  Bluif  disaster 
by  swimming  across  the  river,  and  was  promoted  for 
ills  gallantry  on  that  day.  He  served  the  usual  time, 
and,  re-entering   tho   army,  shared   in   many   of  tho 


* .. 


■■!* 


gi'O'.it  huiiio^  uf  tlio  uriny  of  tli(3  I'otorrma  1  rnpitn! 
instance  of  Ouptuin  ()\Sl,ou'»  .lutivo  limnor  in  tlio 
niidrtt  of  danger,  is  t(,l(l  by  hm  brother  cflieers. 
While  hiB  eoinpaiiy  was  repairing  one  of  the  broken 
I'l-idges  .)ver  tlie  Chieivahoniiny,  one  uf  ilcClellan's 
itids  rode  fiiriouHly  up  and  asked; 
'' Who  eoiiitnandH  liero?'* 

■■  '      '      i    do,"    said     tlie    ( 'uptaift|  ^rli^   stuttered 

imich. 

"  I  want  to  know,  sir,  Can  artillery  pass  over  ?" 
"Yo—ye— yes— if  they  are  ily— fly— flying— ar— 
tn^til-^lery,'»  mul  O'Shea,  casting  a  look  of  droll 
perplexity  at  the  bridge,     O'Shea  met  a  Boldic. ',  death 
at  the  Wilderness. 

When  Mortimer  MoynaTian  wag  released  !ie  found 
that  all  the  aristocrats  of  West  Oarljery  regarded  Iiim 
as  a  disturber,  he  therefore  turned  his  face  towards 
Cork,  where  he  became  associated  in  the  same  law 
office  with  Brian  Dillon,  one  of  the  first  Centres  of  that 
city.     He   returned   to  Skibbereen  in   18G0,  married 
in  the  following  year,  and  was  soon  Centre  of  that 
town.     Being  in  Dublin  in  ISCS,  he  was  arrested  on 
the  night  of  the  seizure  of  the  In,7i  J'eoj^le,     The  in- 
formations sworn  against  him  hy  the  detectives  were 
false,  he  being  confounded  with  his  brother,  who  was 
an   emi)loyee   of  that  jourmd.     Mr.    M.   Moynahan 
made  an  athdavit  in  the  court  of  Quecji's  Bench  to 
'the.  iacts  and  was  admitted  to  bail.     He  was  next  ap- 
3M)inted  hy  the  chief  organizer  "Intermedium"   for 
tlie  county  and  city  of  Cork.     After  the  suspension 
Ol  the  /lahcas  corjjus  act  he  was  sent,  with  three  others, 


356 


FENIAN    HEKOES   ANI)   MAR1TK8. 


to  liOTidon  on  the  business  of  the  Organization, 
whence  lie  was  sent  to  Paris,  waere  he  was  perma- 
nently detailed  by  Stephens,  and  remained  for  tln-ee 
months  ;  after  which  he  came  to  America. 

Patrick  J.  Downing,  a  native  of  Shibbcreen,  was 
one  of  those  against  whom  true  bills  were  found  for 
connection  with  the  "  Phoenix  Conspiracy."  He  was 
held  to  bail;  and,  after  the  discharge  of  Rossa,  he  went 
to  Paris  to  Stephens,  around  whom  then  all  the  young 
revolutionists  gathered.  Soon  after  Downing  came 
to  America  as  the  agent  of  Stephens,  and  became 
engaged  in  the  "  Phoenix  "  journal.  He  went  to  the 
war  with  a  commission  in  the  42d  regiment,  'N.  Y.  Y. 
Was  wounded  badly  several  times,  and  received 
T^terited  promotion.  Colonel  Downing  was  subse- 
quently Adjutant-General,  and  afterwards  Acting  Sec- 
retary for  Civil  Affairs  of  the  F.  B. 

Denis  J.  Downing,  brc  •  jer  of  the  last  named,  is 
alpo  a  native  of  Skibbereen,  and  was  the  youngest  of 
the  Phoenix  prisoners.  Shortly  after  his  release  he 
came  to  the  United  States.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  he  went  to  the  front  as  second  lieutenant  of 
tho  42d  regiment  Is".  Y.  Y.  He  retired  from  that 
regiment  after  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel,  and  entered 
the  97th  as  sergeant-major.  He  took  part  in  most  of 
the  battles  f  the  armj  of  the  Potomac  and  steadily 
rose.  At  Gettysburg  he  was  lieutenant  commanding 
his  company,  and  fell  desperately  wounded.  To  save 
his  life  the  ainputation  of  a  leg  was  necessary.  For 
gallantly  here  he  was  commissioned,  and  when  able  to 
be  about  he  was  transferred  to  the  Yeteran  Reserve 


i      • 


I 


I      ' 


JWtEMIAB   o'lOSOVAS   (eoS3A). 


357 


e^rc'u.tv'^   '"r  "  '"'"■"'''""   «^™'"ation  appoint- 

S    W      r  „:*7"ji""^^'-^  ^'■.  '"■?  -""-'  -  the 
Colonnl  n„  ^-  ™'  d'Sisolved,  Lieutenant- 

la^  rnvarF'"fr''™'^  "  commission  in  the  regu- 
aimy  as  First  Lieutenant,  44th  regiment  infantry. 


358 


FKNIAN    HEROES   AND  MABTYES. 


11 


CHARLES  JOSEPH  KICKHAH. 

„>.  Pa,nny_Sad  Accident  When  a  Boy-A  Stnden^^^^^^ 
_T„  the  Calnns  ol  the  P"«;-^">;-«  J^^^^^.^^^efy  of  hcLeaders-Litera- 
Keo,h-B  and  Hadlier's  '^X'^^'tl^t-TJriJMs  HimBelt-Speech  iu 
tiiro  A-nin— Becomes  a  Feninn-Anept    ir'"' 
the  D,.;k-Sonte..ee-Orael  Tte.tmeut  m  Pmon. 

In  Ms  gentleness  and  force,  in  his  talents  and  demo- 
tion as  a  practieal  Cathdio,  in  Ins  patnotism  and  pu- 
ri",  01-^-  J-  Ki*'-'"  ^'^"•^  "  f""^  resemblance 
to  ilichard  D' Alton  Williams,  tlie  poet,  wel     ^nd 
widel    known  by  Ins  no,,  depl^one  o^Sham.oclc,  and 
r;ll  V  di.tingmsUed  by  being  one  of  «-  Jonng  I  e- 
land  ikriot-marty-s  of  '48.     They  were  likewise  T,p- 
perai-y  men,  and  do  honor  to  that  noble  connty. 
'^  The  more  recent  transactions  in  which  Kickham 
,vas  concerned  have  become  a  part  of  the  history  of 
onr  day.    For  the  tacts  embracing  the  earlier  portion 
of  his  career,  we  are  indebted  to  one  of  his  associates, 
Cantein  D.  P.  Conyngham.*      Charles  J.  KicWiam 
w:fbl  about  thirtVeight  years  ago,  in  the  sma    .^ 
Lo  of  Mnlli.ial.one,  which  lies  almost  beneath  the 
shelter  of  Slievenamon,  whose  pictnrcscp.e  beanty  ho 
fhiterwoven  h.to  some  of  his  best  poems.     I  « 
sprang  from  a  respectable  and  patriotic  stock,     lus 

.Auth!r  OC  "T  he  Iri.b  Brlg.de.ua  ■„.C.m..isn.."  "  Sherm«.-.!.«<*.".». 


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CHARLES   JOSEPn    KICK  11  AM. 


359 


fufhor,  Jolm  Kickliiun,  was  a  wealtJiy  draper,  and  the 
liiiuhiu^  .nan  of  tho  villa<rc,  a  patriot  and  a  i)l.llantl.ro- 
pist.  Jfo  gave  nnto  liundredrt  who  wore  evicted  from 
their  little  farinH,  not  only  clothes  from  his  store,  but 
also  money  to  enable  them  to  emigrate  to  America  • 
and  to  their  credit  bo  it  said,  they  gratefully  returned 
It  as  soon  as  earned.  Many  a  farmer,  who  to-day  gh^ 
.loys  i.eace  and  plenty  in  happy  homesteads  in  Amer- 
]('M.,  blesses  his  memory. 

His  mother  was  an  O'Mahony,  and  in  every  sense  a 
lady,  refined  and  cliaritable.     Two  of  his  uncles  and 
several  of  his  relatives  were  eminent  divines.     Sprung 
from  such  a  iamily,and  reared  amid  such  associations'^ 
Chai-les    Kickham  grew  up  with  unsullied   princii)le8 
and  a  mind  as  pure  as  the   gentlest  maiden.     IJis 
father,  a  man  of  education,  sound  judgment  and  keen 
penetration,  saw  that  his  son  possessed  the  germs  of  a 
fine  mind,  and  resolved  to  spare  no  labor  or  expense 
to   polish  the   diamond,     lie  engaged   a   competxiut 
tutor  for  that  purpose.     The  boy  progressed  rapidly, 
but  an  unfortunate  occurrence  blighted  his  hopes  when 
about  thirteen  years  of  age:  the  explosion  of  a  pow- 
der  flask  brought  the  boy  to  the  verge  of  the  grave. 
He  slowly  recovered,  however,  but  remained  deaf  and 
near-sighted  ever  after.     lie  could  not  now  avail  him- 
self of  the  instructions  of  a  teacher,  so  he  retired 
within  himself,  and  became  a  great  reader  and  thinker 
When  only  a  boy  of  eighteen  Jie  contributed  some 
beautiful  pieces  to  the  press. 

"Ho  was  passionately  fond  of  fishing  and  fowlino- 
Sometimes  you  would  meet  him  along  the  banks  of 


'■M«ito»M«tnp,y  -jig.,,,,. 


I 


3G0 


FENIAN    HEltOES   AJiO)   MAKTYllfl. 


\ 


Ifl 


If 


King's  River,  a  stream  near  his  neic^hborin*,^  town,  or 
wandering  along  the  beautiful  Aniier,  that  flows  be- 
side Slievenamon.     At  other  times  you  might  meet 
him  with  a  double-barreled  gun  in  his  hand,  or  flung 
Oil  his  shoulder,  with  Fan,  the  terrier,  and  a  pointer 
for  his  companions,  wandering  over  the  moors  or  along 
the  mountains,  in  search  of  game.     He  and  his  haunts 
were  so  well  known,  that  the  little  children  crowded 
the  cabin  doors  on  the  day  he  was  expected,  looking 
out  for  Master  Charles;  for  he  had  a  kind  word  for 
all,  and  divided  his  spoils  with  them,  and  had  shana- 
clius  with  the  old  women  in  the  corner,  and  smoked 
the  dudheen  with  the  old  man,  and  talked  of  '98,  of 
the  Croppies  and  the  Yeos,  of  the  pitch-caps  and  the 
triangles,  of  the  wholesale  exterminations  and  starva- 
tion of  the  peasantry  of  the  present  time,  until  his 
honest  blood  coursed  his  veins  in  fiery  streams,  and 
the  tear  moistened  his  eye,  and  the  hope  of  revenge 
gave  a  ^  fierce  expression  to  his  kind  and  noble  face. 
He  delighted  very  much  in  manly  exercises,  and  keen- 
ly enjoyed  the  hurling  and  the  dance  upon  the  green, 
and  made  these  rural  customs  the  subject  of  some  of 
his  descriptive  tales." 

Though  his  society  was  courted  by  the  wealthiest, 
it  was  in  the  poor  man's  shelling,  or  enjoying  the 
merry  dance  and  hurling-matches  of  the  peasantry,  he 
was  most  at  home.  The  honest  peasant  who  mourned 
the  wrongs  of  his  country  and  yearned  for  its  freedom 
—who  toiled  hard  for  his  daily  bread — was,  in  his 
opinion,  tar  nobler  than  the  sleek  slave  who,  because 
he  had  enough  himself,  closed  his  eyes  to  the  suffer- 
ings around  him,  and  felt  happy. 


CHARLES  JOSEPH   KICKIIAM.  ^61 

Altliough  scarcely  twenty  years  of  ago  in   '48  he 
was  an  active  nationalist,  and   in  coninnction  with 
some  congenial  spirits  organized  a  club  in  Mullina- 
hone,  ^  Having    fallen   under  suspicion,   he   suifered 
some  inconvenience  for  a  short  time.     He  then  re- 
turned to  his  old  sjiorts,  and  to  literature,  writing  fu- 
gitive  pieces  for  the  periodicals.     Soon  after  Keo-h 
and  Sadher  organized  an  independent  opposition  par- 
ty-a  lenant-right  party-pledged  to  oppose  every 
government   that  would  not   do  justice   to   Ireland, 
Xeogh,  m  makmg  his  pledge,  raised  his  hands  and 
eyes   to   Heaven,  exclaiming—"!   pledge   myself  so 
help  me  God  I"     What  became  of  all  these  promises 
and  violated  oaths  we  know  too  w^ell. 

When  the  treachery  and  rottenness  of  the  Keogh 
and  Sadher  party  became  apparent,  the  Ti,)perary 
I^eader  became  the  great  organ  of  the  people  in  smash- 
ing up  their  perjured  clique ;  and  Kickham,  Father 
Kenyon  and  Father  John  Power  were  among  its  ablest 
contributors. 

^  Keogh  became  a  justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and 
in  time  Kickham  was  arraigned  as  a  felon  and  a  traitor 
before  the  perjured  judge,  who,  if  there  was  any  trea- 
son  in  the  act  which  brought  him  there,  was  the  man 
who  taught  him  that  very  treason. 

Disgusted  with  the  treachery  of  his  leaders,  Kick- 
ham  agam  retired  within  himself-to  write  tales  and 
put  the  feelings  of  the  people  into  vigorous  verse 
When  Doctor  Cane  of  Kilkenny  started  the  Celi, 
Kickham  at  once  became  a  contributor,  writintr 
sketches,  tales,  essays,  and  poems.    Of  the  latter,  hit 


862 


FKNTAN    IIKRORS    ANT)   MAItTVIia. 


^ 


*'Tlory  of  tho  Tlill"  appfiiivd  in  tliia  pcriodicul.  Al- 
tlioiigh  Kii'kliaiii  li!i<l  vowod  to  csdiow  politico  in  I'u- 
tiiro,  lie  bo(iinno  »  convert  to  Stt'|)lj(;nB'  viewB ;  and 
"vvlion  Jolm  ()'^^llllony  visited  frcljind  lio  initiuted  ono 
mun,  and  that  was  our  poet,  wlio  at  once  tln'cvv  liim- 
Bclf  with  tlio  dovoti(»n  ot  hirt  nature  into  the  orjijani- 
zation,  and  was  nniinly  insti'urnental  in  powinj^  tlio 
pcedrt  of  Feni:iniMin  over  Tippeniry.  IFe  [)aid  a  vi^it  to 
the  United  States  in  LSdl},  and  was  ])resent  at  the  First 
National  Conii-rosa  of  the  IJrotherhood  at  Chicajjjo. 
On  his  return  liomc;  lie  bccaiuo  a  leadini;  writer  for 
tlie  L'ii^/i  People  \  and  on  Stepliens'  visit  to  America 
durinjjj  the  war,  ho  was  designated  (without  his  know- 
ledge) ono  of  the  tliiee  executive  council  to  nianngo 
atlairs  in  his  absence.  Kichhani  was  captured  at  tlie 
time  of  Stephens'  arrest,  and  brought  to  trial  in  Dub- 
lin at  the  re-sitting  of  the  S])ecial  CommisBion,  5th 
January,  18()7.  At  its  commencement,  liis  defence 
was  conducted  by  counsel ;  but  on  the  refusal,  by  the 
judges,  of  his  application  to  have  Tliomas  Clarke 
Luby  produced  as  a  witness,  he  declai-ed  the  trial  was 
a  mockery,  and  refused  to  have  any  further  leg;>.l  as- 
sistance, lie  addressed  tlie  jury  in  his  own  defence, 
and  made  a  lengthy  and  clever  speech,  one  which  bore 
the  impress,  not  only  of  talent,  but  of  truthfulness  in 
every  part,  and  which  certainly  tended  to  place  his 
conduct  in  a  more  innocent  light  than  that  in  which  it 
was  represented  by  the  Crown  lawyers. 

4 

He  said  that  a  person  unaccustomed  as  he  was  to  public  speak  ■ 
ing,  could  hardly  get  out  his  Ideas  at  all  without  prei)aration,  and 
iiu  had  had  uo  tinie.     However,  he  had  no  objection  to  go  on. 


I 


PKNIAN    TIKUOKS   ANT)  MAUTVK8. 


303 


No  pnsr.nor  ha.l  <,v..r  hmx  tn-ut...!  more  xmMv]y  \hnu  ]w.  was. 
I^ot,  „nly  l.,ul  h,,  t,.  |„,u-  his  Mhurc  of  .ulunn.y,  but,  IV,,,.,  th.,.  c.„». 
n.<.u-..n,,.„t  of  the  Co„unis.i,.„,  in  cv.,ry  8,,.,,cU  ,narl.  l,y  ...nns-l 
J<'ril..!(.rowM,  I.iH  nmn.  vvuH  (Iruir.,,!  i,,,  and  not  aloru- that,  l.ut 
<>v<.M  tl,.,  j,„I..,s  on  II,.  |„,„.i,  ,ii.l  it.     ir.  ronid  not  l,.,t  fiu-i  h  litdo 
«unMis..,   wlH.n  on.  ,.(•  tl.o  Jn.Ig.H  r.-ad  out  tl.o  nu,n,.,s  iVo.n  tl.o 
*.x.TuHvo  do..n„„nt  "-Lul,y,  0'U.Hry,  und  Kickiiau.-and  snid 
.0  Hlu,dd,M(.d  at  tl„.  crirncH  (I,.ho  men  would  con.tnit  if  tl.,.y  Imd 
lM>  liovvor.     Ho  conid  not  I.Hp  H,inl<ing  llmt  I.i»  lordnliip  nhmUl 
-vo  nrolI,...|,.d  M.at  IIh-m,  was  ono  of  tlwH.  nw,n  wl.o  was  not  yot 
n.d,  and  wl.o  nngi.t  I„.  innocent  of  .v.-n  knowing  tl.o  oxisl.uL 
«l  llMs  donnnont.     So  that  h.  (prlHonc,.-)  conHi.h.x.d  ho  had  b.ra 
in.  d  and  found  guilty  five  thncs  in  that  Court  IIouso,  and  ho  did 
not  know  Imw  n.any  tin.os  in  C(,rk.     Ho  w.,uld  now  go  throu^di 
t  .(>  HilioloM  in  tl.o  indi.ln.ont,  but  would  not  road  thon,  all      Th« 
irst  mt.olo  was  ono  hoa<lod  '"82  and  '29."     If  ihoy  took  tl.o 
trouble  of  reading  through  that  artielo,  they  would  be  at  a  loss  to 
Bee  ^yhy  ,t  was  that  so  long  an  article,  with  so  little  treason  in  it 
e^hould  have  the  ,>lac:o  of  honor.     They  might  not  agree  with  tho 
wnlor,  but  It  was,  novortlxlrss,  true  what  he  said,  that  it  would 
have  heen  well  lor  LHand  that  tho  olain.s  of  the  loyal  Volunteers 
of  82  had  been  refusc.i,  for  thg  result  wouhl  have  been  eon.plete 
""•<I>('<.<l<-n(x'.     And  I,.t  them  look  baek  upon  the  history  of  thia 
country-not  a  glcani  of  s,u.shine-the  sulFerings  of  the  people 
and  the  exodus.     What  Irisl.n.an  couM  look  upon  the  eightyJbur 
years  wh.eh  had  passed  and  would  not  say,    "Give  us  our  coun- 

vf.I  Tt  '-"'t^'''  '"''  I''  ^"''^  ""'""'  '''  "^  ''"'  ^^"^^  ^'^  ^-^  ^1- 
With  It.       1  heso  armed  voluntc-ers  trampled  on  the  Tieason-Felo- 

i)y  Act.     So  mueh  for  '82.     There  was  not  much  treason  In  that 

rerhai)s  it  was  in  the  '2t)  part  of  the  artielo  tho  treason  was      The 

purport  of  that  portion  was,  that  if  the  English  Government  refused 

cmanc.iKition,  the  Roman  Catholics  would  have  taken  up  arms 

and  that  the  liberal  Protestants  would  have  jomed   them      The 

J)uke  of  Wellington  said  the  same  thing,  and  be  must  8av  that  a 

bishop  m  America  was  so  oblivious  of  his  allegiance  as  to  organize 

forty  thousand  armed  Fenians,  to  send  them  to  Ireland,   if  the 

Government  refused  emancipation.     There  was  one  good  thin- 


I 


^  ^ 


1  '  ! 


864 


0HABLE8  JOSEPH   KICKIIAM. 


i 


that  the  Fonlann  did.  He  said  that  concessions  to  Ireland  liad 
been  always  (lie  result  of  Fenianisni  in  Homo  Bliapc  or  otlit-r;  tlio 
Kn;;li>*h  aoverninent,  liowc^ver,  wliih'  nial<inf,'  coneesHions,  aiways 
expected  to  get  soinething  In  return  ;  and,  lie  believed,  they  had 
never  been  disaijpointed.  Not  only  hail  they  etipuiafcd  upon 
getting  prompt  payment,  but,  also,  they  got  a  largo  instaliniMit  in 
advance.  And  luiro  ho  could  nf)t  help  referring  to  tlie  publication 
of  Sir  John  Gray's  aflldavit,  which  he  stated  he  withheld,  afraid  it 
would  injure  the  prisoners  on  their  trial,  and  yet  that  visry  allida- 
Vit  was  published  on  the  eve  of  his  trial.  To  return  to  the  article 
"  '82  and  '29,"  he  repeated,  they  would  find  very  little  treason  in 
it.  Why,  tlieii,  hud  it  been  i)laced  on  the  front  of  the  inlictment? 
That  was  done  for  a  passage  in  it  referring  to  Roman  ("atliolic 
judges,  and  Roman  Catholic  placemen,  in  which  it  was  said, 
*'The  Calholic  jud;i,c  will  prove  as  iniiiuitous  a  tool  of  tyranny,  as 
tlie  most  bigotted  Orange  partisan  would  be."  It  would  not  do 
for  tlie  Attorney-General  to  select  articles  in  wiiich  one  of  the 
judges  was  mentioned  by  name  in  the  severest  language.  That 
would  be  going  too  far.  Judge  Keogh  said  he  had  never  seen  a 
copy  of  the  Irish  People,  and  he  believed  tliat  if  his  lordship  had 
seen  these  articles,  he  would  have  tried  to  avoid  sitting  in  judg- 
ment on  tlie  men  who  were  accused  of  being  the  writers  of  them. 

But  the  Attonioy-General  l«new  of  them,  and  he  believed  that 
the  articles  he  alluded  to  had  been  placed  in  the  front  for  the  pur- 
pose of  prejudicing  Roman  Catholic  judges  against  the  prisoners 
they  would  have  to  try ;  and  the  Special  Commission  was  ap- 
pointed— if  that  was  the  word— for  the  sole  purpose  of  enabling 
tlicm  to  select  the  judges,  and  that  it  was  the  best  mode  of  follow- 
ing np  the  attempt  to  put  down  the  organization,  by  trampling  on 
the  law,  and  then  following  that  up  by  trampling  on  the  law  of 
morality  and  decency.  If  it  were  necessaiy  to  intorrnpt  him,  JVIr. 
Lawless  would  communicate  their  lordships'  wislies  to  liim. 

Justice  Keogh — "  Not  at  all.     Proceed." 

The  Prisoner  went  on  to  say  that  the  jury  might  be  told  that  all 
this  was  beside  the  question.  But  he  denied  this.  lie  said  the 
Government  was  on  its  trial,  and  not  alone  the  Irish  Government, 
bat  English  rule  in  Ireland  was  on  its  trial.     The  Government 


VENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYK8. 


365 

hmd '!^H "i!' ''"'"""'  "^''^^•"'^••^'^•^  n.n.plrarv.  both   in  Ire 
^m    an,lAnu.n.a;  but  ,I,is  only  showed  that  tho  ,n.:Un."u  of 

"  The  trlbnno'«  tonsno  nnrl  poot'f.  pon 
May  BOW  tho  seed  la  Blftvlsh  men, 
But  'tl8  tho  8oltHer«  wword  alone 
Can  reap  the  harveHt  when  'tis  sown. 

T,i'7^''  T""  ""^'^ ''''■"*'  "'"'"  ""^'^'  ^^''^  his  host  to  make  the 
In^h  people  a  .nilitary  people.     A  lew  years  before  his  Zth  Is 
f  .ends  observed  in  his  library  a  nun.ber  ofnuiitary  book     sn  ,. 
1-0  found  m  the  offloe  of  the  /././.  Penj.lc,  and  ho  w^u Id    a^ 

ins  statue,   by  Hogan,   is  now  in   IVFount  Jerome.     Tlio  whole 
na  on       ,,,ied  his  death,   and  all  cre.ls  and  classes  ,a,l 

dowb'thoT- /';"""  ""^"^  ^"^"'«  P-ants' cabin's  pulled 

"  '  God  of  justice  I '  I  «aid,  '  send  your  spirit  down 
On  tliose  lords  so  cruel  and  proud 
And  soften  their  hearts,  and  relax  their  frown 
Or  else,'  I  cried  aloud—  ' 

» Vouchsafe  your  stron^-th  to  the  poasnnfs  hand, 
10  drive  them  at  length  from  oU"  the  laud.' " 

The  prisoner  concluded  by  saying,   "Wliat  did  tlie  Irish  Pco 
^^.  say  worse  than  that?     I  have  done  no  more  than  he  h^ 
done ;  doom  me  to  a  felon's  doom  if  you  choose. » 

T]iG  charge  of  Judge  Keogli  was  considered  not 
unfavorable   to   the  prisoner.       The    jury,   liowever 
bronglit  in  a  verdict  of  "  Guilty  on  all  the  counts  "    ' 

Some  one  near  luckham  intimates  this  to  him  by 
some  look  or  sign,  and  he  knows  that  his  time  is  come 


»?mmmmm^ 


fef 


rij 


'|H    ^ 


366 


CHARLES  JOSlilPll   KICKHAM. 


to  speak  again,  if  Le  chooses  to  do  so.  Slepjring  to 
the  front  of  the  dock,  at  first  stooping  slightly 
over  the  iron  bar,  and  then  raising  himself  to  his  full 
height,  he  says — 

"Perhaps,  my  lord,  I  have  said  enough  already.  I  will  only 
add  that  I  believe  I  have  done  nothing  but  my  duty.  I  have  en- 
deavored to  serve  Ireland,  and  now  I  am  prepared  to  sufl'er  for 
Ireland. " 

The  sentence  was  that  he  be  kept  in  penal  servitudo 
for  a  term  of  fom'teen  years.  Great  commiseration 
(said  the  Nation)  for  Mr.  Kickham,  was  felt  during 
the  progress  of  the  trial,  which  was,  throughout,  a 
painful  scene.  Ilis  deafness  and  his  defective  sight 
caused  him  to  be  almost  unconscious  of  a  great  por- 
tion of  the  proceedings  ;  but  the  most  material  points 
were  communicated  to  him  through  the  india-rubber 
speaking  tube  which  he  wore  about  his  neck.  During 
his  trial  one  could  not  help  being  forcibly  reminded 
of  one  of  the  verses  occurring  in  his  clever  and  popu- 
lar ballad,  named  "  Patrick  Sheehan  " — 

"0,  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,     ' 

Mine  is  a  mournful  tale, 
A  poor  blind  prisoner  here  I  am 

In  Dublin's  dreary  jail ; 
Struck  blind  within  the  trenches 

Where  I  never  feared  the  foe ; 
And  now  I'll  never  see  again 

My  own  sweet  Aherlow." 

We  read  lately  of  a  good  old  priest,  who  was  found 
weeping  over  one  of  Kickham's  graphic  pictures  of 


FENIAN    HEROES   AND   MARTYRS, 


367 


a 


peasant  siifferiiiivg,  and,  when  asked  what  was  the 
matter,  replied,  "Head  that,  and  when  you  reflect 
that  the  man  wlio  wrote  it  is  pining  in  a  dungeon 
to-day,  instead  of  being  idolized  by  all  classes,  is  it 
not  enough  to  make  any  man  weep '?  " 

Mr.  Kickham  has  suffered  what  has  been  termed  a 
process  of  "  slow  and  savage  torture  "  since  his  incar- 
ceration. His  pure,  gentle,  and  loving  nature,  has 
been  subjected  not  only  to  indignity,  but  to  such 
treatment  as  should  make  any  civilized  nation  bow  its 
head  in  shame.  After  spending  a  few  weeks  in 
Mountjoy  Prison,  where  he  was  treated  with  compara- 
tive generosity,  he  was  removed  to  Pentonville,  and 
handed  over  to  the  tender  mercies  of  English  ofiicials. 
Here,  the  invalid  prisoner  was  subjected  to  the  soli- 
tary discipline  and  starvation  allowance,  until  he 
•'  was  riddled  over  with  scrofulous  ulcers,  and  reduced 
to  a  skeleton.  He  is  then  sent  to  Portland  for  change 
of  air,  where,  by  way  of  healthful  recreation,  he  is 
ordered  into  the  wash-house  to  cleanse  the  foul  gar- 
ments of  England's  vilest  criminals.  But  his  brave 
soul  can  no  longer  support  his  famished  body.  He 
sickens  almost  to  death,  is  tried  in  the  quarries,  and 
then  sent  off  to  the  invalid  station  at  Wokino-." 
When  last  heard  from,  he  was  being  killed  hy  inches. 


i 


**-**»*««,,^,jj^,,. 


368 


DENIS  DOWLmG  MULCAUT* 


mi 


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DENIb  DOWLING  MITI.CAHT. 

Son  of  a  Patriotic  Farmer— Fenian  Propagnndist— Studies  Medictfi*— Hlil 
Appearance— Arrested— Trial— Speecli    in   tlie    Doclc— Colloquy    witit  tte« 
Judge— Guilty— Sentence— Sufferings  in  Prison— Writ  of  Errof. 

This  gentleman,  whose  indefatigable  services  to  tij© 
Fenian  canse  were  sworn  to  on  the  trials  of  his  friend*, 
Luby,  Kickham,  and  others,  as  weil  as  on  his  own,  !« 
yet  under  thirty-five  years  of  age.  The  son  of  a  re- 
spectable farmer  in  the  parish  of  Powcrstown,  neap 
Clonmel,  County  of  Tipperary,  who  was  a  sturdy 
nationalist  in  the  days  of  O'Connell,  and  subsequently 
an  adherent  of  the  Young  Ireland  doctrines,  young 
Denis  inherited  his  father's  spirit  and  zeal.  His  boy- 
ish enthusiasm  was  fired  in  '48.  The  feelings  of  this 
era  grew  with  his  grow^th  ;  he  was  one  of  the  first 
to  join  the  Fenian  Broth ei'hood  in  Tipperary ;  and, 
with  Kickham,  was  a  chief  propagandist  of  it  in  that; 
county.  Subsequently  his  energies  and  ability  wero 
brought  into  play  on  a  larger  field  of  operations.  In 
18G0  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  ia  Dublin,  wrote 
for  the  press,  and,  on  the  or,9;aiiization  of  the  Iri^h 
People  corps,  he  became  sub-editor  of  that  journal. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Mulcahy  presented  a  fine  personal 
appearance.    Nearly  six  feet  in  height,  with  a  skin  fair 


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PENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYRS. 


3G9 


as  a  woman's,  his  rich  golden  hair  long  and  cnrlino-  to 
his  Bhonlders,  his  beard  fair  and  silky,  and  feati^res 
mild  and  regular,  gave  him  a  dreamy,  poetical  look. 
VV^hen  aroused,  and  speaking  of  Ireland,  whether  at 
the  festive  boai-d,  or  addressing  the  impassioned  sons 
of  Tipperary,  with  his  locks  flung  back  from  his  brow 
and  his  mild  eye  transfigured  into  flame,  he  was  the 
embodiment  of  the  boldness  and  the  passion  of  patri- 

\t  ^r!^  P'"'^  ^^  ^^'^  '^'^'''^  of  the  Fenian  or- 
gan,  Mr.  Mulcahy  was  arrested.  After  some  delay  he 
was  bronght  to  trial,  and,  on  the  2rth  Jannary,  1806 
found  guilty  on  all  the  c<n.nts.  The  trial  was  of  the 
usual  stereotyped  kind  ;  Nagle,  the  informer,  and  his 
lelJows,  being  the  Government  resource. 

The  prisoner  was  about  to  reply  to  the  usual  ques- 
tion,  when  Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald  warned  him  that  if 
he  had  any  proper  arguments  "  to  address  to  the  court 
he  could  do  so,  but  that  the  court  would  be  obliged  to 
interpose  if  the  prisoner  transgressed  the  proper 
limits.'*  ^    ^ 

Mr.  Mulcahy--  My  lords,  several  persons  have  been  tried  since 
the  openmg  of  this  Special  Commission.  They  were  supplied  with 
copies  of  most  of  the  documents  which  were  to  be  produced  in 
evu^ence  against  them.    When  they  came  to  this  bar,   they  were 

the  2'^th  September  last.  I  asked  for  the  information  on  which  I 
was  arrested.  There  was  none  to  be  produced  to  me.  1  was 
thrown  mto  a  cell  and  l.ft  there  for  twenty-four  hours.  I  was 
brought  before  a  magistrate,  I  was  committed,  or  rather  remanded 
I  was  brought  up  agam.  I  asked  to  be  shown  the  evidence  upon 
which  I  was  arrested  or  remanded,  but  there  was  not  a  single  tittle 
of  e^adence  to  be  produced  to  me,  I  had  nothing  but  the  sunpla 


'fff 


370 


DENIS  DOWLIKG  MULOAUY. 


I 


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In  Lnby's  ca«o  the  A»„„K.y-Q™  "  1;  '     a        ,"  ,"';"  "■'■"'"'• 

^v•l„d,  w„„M  j„„i,y  ,1,0  seizure  of  ,|,e  IITjZJ   ^"";;""™' 
rest  of  those  connected  wit],  i,      w  ,  '  "'  ""''  "'"  »■■- 

thrown  into  soHta  y    on     cln,    a-l'r  '*"'  "' """"-'y. 
-n,o  Carges  were  Ice,  ZZ^  w™  Xr;,":."''"™  ."«' 

^^;i:n,r:ra:r""--'-°"^^^^ 

on,yL  ...rr:;:;:  f^zrsoTL";:'!,;^'^"™'".""' "-' 

«o  matter  a,     „at  ttao  or  V^^^.TZZ'^t^rrZ 

learned  lawyer,  who  is  an  oJiment  V,  s  ,,«^  i^?  ^    ":  """ 
to  his  country.     I  relied  on  the  truthfttlne,   of  «     A,?      ""  T"' 

.e,..f  Of  those  Who  were  Lcensed  of  br^cCe™.  IthTti: 
called  a  treacirerous  consplracy-an  infamous  eonsplraey_wo  have 
heard  so  much  of  learned  br„.hers-of  learned  friends.  Ita  one 

c^  ,     _^  Wa  were  charged  by  Mr.  Barty  in  ^  opening  slate- 


FENIAN   UEliOKS   AND  MARTYKS. 


371 


fu 


Mr.  JuRtice  Fitzgornld  stf.i)i)«l  him  as  he  had  "notyot  niarlo 
one  legitimate  observation  "— 

•  Prisoner— "I  am  going  to  show  that  I  was  taken  by  surprise." 
Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald-"  Tliat  is  a  fair  oI)servation.» 
Prisoner—"  Have  I  not  a  ri-hl  to  allude  to  it  ?     I  care  veiy  little 
tor  the  treason-felony,  but  I  con,;,.ive  that  my  moral  character  has 
been  assailed,  and  I  do  not  wish  that  the  imputations  which  have 
been  made  against  it  should  go  abroad  on  the  wings  of  the  press 
It  was  alleged  by  Mr.  Barry  in  hi  "— 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald-"  I  have  already  told  you  that  we  can- 
not  hear  that. " 

Prisoner— "Mr.  Barry  alleged  that  we  preached  the  doctriiu-s  of 
socialism.     I  deny  that;  I  deny  the  charge  of  assassination.     I 
niamtain  that  the  doctrines  preached  by  the  Irish  People''— 
^l\:  Justice  Fitzgerald— "I  cannot  hear  you  further." 
Prisoner—"  Respecting  the  cliarge  made  against  me,  I  say  that 
the  doctrines  put  forward  against  me  in  that  paper  are  put  forward 
by  John  Stuart  Mill,  who  is  certainly  as  high  an  authority  as  you 
can  hnd.     As  regards  the  evidence  "— 
Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald-"  The  jury  have  determined  upon  that  » 
Prisoner-"!  want  to  show  that  there  was  nothing  immoral  in 
the  doctrines  preached  by  the  Irish  leople  "— 
Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald—"  I  won't  listen  to  you." 
Prisoner-"  I  never  yet  knew  a  prisoner  to  hit  on  that  happv 
phrase  why  sentence  should  not  be  passed  upon  him  "— 

The  Judge  here  repeated  his  previous  warning,  adding  "I  was 
further  under  the  apprehension  that  you  might  give  utterance  to 
expressions  which  might  coerce  me  to  impose  a  severer  sentence 
than  the  court  intended. " 

Prisoner-"!  have  been  found  guilty  on  insufficient  evidence 
It  was  not  proved  that  I  was  in  Clonmel.  It  was  not  proved  that 
I  acted  as  a  Fenian.  Mr.  Vowell  could  not  say  that  he  saw  me 
write  for  the  last  ten  years.  He  could  not  swear  to  my  handwrit- 
mg.  It  was  impossible  that  he  could  judge  of  the  character  of 
my  writing.  He  states  I  was  only  sixteen  years  of  age  when  I 
was  m  his  office  ;  he  also  stated  what  was  perfectly  false.  If  a 
man's  oath  is  anything,  he  stated  what  was  pure  perjury.     He 


m^ 


372 


PENIAN   niJROEP   AND  MARTYRS. 


Bworo  tlmt  ho  never  paid  me  bark  money,  for  which  I  proroflscd 
him.  Tliat  is  a  i'nvX  which  I  could  eHtabllHli,  Tlie  Altorncy-Gen- 
erai  said  aonu'tliing  about  being  dupes  of  Stepliens,  Luby  and 
O'Leary  "— 

Mr.  Justice  Filzgorald— **I  cannot  allow  this." 

Prisoner — "  With  regard  to  the  connection  between  Stephens 
and  Luby  " — 

Tiie  Judge  would  not  listen  to  that  subject. 

Prisoiu'r — "One  of  theae  letters  was  put  in  for  the  purpose  of 
connecling  me  with  Fenianism.  There  was  not  a  single  particle 
of  evidence  in  the  case  to  show  that  I  knew  anything  of  the  acts 
of  others.  TIktc  was  no  evidence  that  I  ever  went  to  a  drill 
meeting;  no  single  jiartide  of  evidence  that  I  was  at  tiie  meeting 
in  Clonmel."  The  prisoner  then  proceeded  to  jioint  out  discrepan- 
cies in  Nagle's  evidence,  with  a  view  to  show  liiat  it  was  wholly 
incorrect.  Ho  asserted  that  Nagle's  statement  that  he  (prisoner) 
had  given  him  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Johv  O'Mahony  was 
false. 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald — "  I  really  must  put  a  dlop  to  these  ob- 
servations.    You  are  simply  wasting  time." 

Prisoner — '"AH  I  have  now  to  say  is  that  the  Irish  People 
preached  proper  doctrines,  and  that  I  am  proud  of  my  coimeclion 
with  it,  and  with  Stephens,  Luby,  John  O'Leary  " — 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald — "I  have  warned  you  of  the  conse- 
quences. " 

Prisoner — "I  am  now  prepared  to  receive  sentence." 


The  prisoner  was  sentenced  to  penal  servitude  for 
ten  years. 

Mulcaliy,  like  liis  friends,  suffered  and  suffers  severe- 
ly in  prison.  A  letter  from  Dartmoor — a  situation  on 
a  moor  more  than  a  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea,  witli  a  humid,  fogscy  and  cold  climate — indi- 
cated h*8  siiffcriufrs :  "  Nothiiiij;  can  be  less  suitable 
for  one  who  has  suffered  as  I  had  at  Millbank  from 


DEN18  DOWLtNG  MtJLCAMY. 


373 


noiimlgia,  which  I  first  caught  tlioro  owincr  to  the 
Btrong  currents  of  tiir  wliich  ])Rs.sed  through  my  cell  " 

'it  (lid  occur  to  mo,"  he  continues,  "that  I  may  not 
be  sent  back  to  Portland  till  the  decision  of  the  lords 
was  known,  but  that  I  might  be  removed  to  Woking 
as  It  was  convenient  to  London."     *    *     *     «  Had  j 
given  way  to  my  grief,  I  must  have  sunk;  but  I  med- 
itated on  the  words  of  the  Lord  to  Jeremias  :  <  Think 
thoughts  of  peace  and  not  of  affliction  ;  you  shall  call 
upon  me,  and  I  will  hear  you ;  I  will  bring  back  your 
captivity  from  all  places.'     I've  placed  myself  under 
the  protection  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  implored 
her  intercession,  and  cast  all  my  care  upon'lier  Divine 
Son,  and  so  I've  been  able  to  do  what  I  fear  I  other- 
wise should  not  bear  with  resignation~my  fate." 

The  decision  of  the  Lords  alluded  to  was  in  a  writ 
of  error  sued  out  in  his  case.  Mr.  Mulcahy  was  sub- 
Bequently  returned  to  the  "  felon  cells  "  of  Pentonville 


I      4 


~-"-™~iraitii";ii  Mji^e^ii, 


371 


FENIAN   HEUOE8   AND  MAltTl'Iia. 


.TOim  FLOOD,  EDWARD  DUFFY,  MICHAEL 

.    riood  Arrested  with  McOafferty-AJrls  to  llclen^e  Stophrn^^PoHition  in  the 
r.«„i.a,ion.    DnfFy  Arro.ted  with  SlophonH-SIck  iu  P.l.„n-LilH.rat..a- 
la.-Am.Hto,l  and  I.I.M,ti.l,vl-'rri,.lB-Fl.,od,  DuIFy  and  Cody  found  Ouilty- 
Thoir  SpecchcB  lu  tlio  Dock-Sontcnccs.  ^ 

JonN  Flood,  wlio  was  an-cstod  wifli  McCaffortj  in 
tlie  Lit%  under  tlie  name  of  FliilIi|,H,  ,m(l  who  was 
BO  constaTitly  alluded  to  by  t]ie  infonner  and  detec- 
tives, presented  a  stri icing  appearsince  M^lien  confront- 
ed witli  liis  persecutors.     A  fine  loolcing  man,  of  large 
person,  and  frank,  hands(Mne  features,  adorned  by  an 
ample  board  of  a  tawtiy  color,  his  bearing  was  upn'oht 
and  stalwart,  and  he  scorned  little  affected  by  the  con- 
iinement  of  prison  life.     John  Flood  is  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  and  a  Wexford  man.     Heiirst  became 
specially  distinguished  by  his  panicipntion  in  the  ar- 
rangements for  the  escape  of  Stephens  i'roni  Ireland. 
He  accompanied  Stephens  and  Colonel  Kelly  in  their 
perilous  journey  frt>m  Du])lin  to  Scothmd.     Adverse 
winds  blew  tlicir   boat  into  Bemist  Hai-bor  with  tlie 
loss  of  their  tiller;  and  it  was  owing  to  Flood's  knowl- 
edge and  experience  flint  the  party  were  saved..    He 
received  a  severe  injury  in  the  hand  letting  go  the  an- 


FLOOD,    DUFFV,    AND  CODY.  375 

chor  in  tlio  hurry  to  prevent  tliclr  hv'uv^  driven  too  far 
into  the  Imrbor.  Flood  saw  Stei)lien8  Hafo  to  TarlH, 
and  after  a  few  days  returned  to  Irehmd,  and  almost 
irnined lately  took  his  position  na  one  of  the  lirnt  otH- 
eers  of  the  Kno-lish  and  Seoteh  ()r<ranization.  He  in 
freiiuently  alhided  to  as  one  of  the  "  Directory  »  and  aa 
(^hief  projector  of  the  Chester  affair.  His  comrades 
H[)eulv  of  him  as  a  man  of  ^reat  energy,  who  always 
Htood  fiiitlifully  to  his  work,  and  was  respected  and 
relied  upon  by  the  people. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Edward  Duffy  was  one 
of  the  ]>arties   arrested  at   Stephens'   house   on    the 
morning   of   the    Uth    November,    1865.      He    was 
charged  at  the  same  time  with  confederating  and  con- 
Hi.iring  to  levy  war  against  the  Queen,  to  separate  Ire- 
land from  England,  and  to  establish  a  republic  in  the 
former.     On  this  occasion,  before  the  magistrates,  Mr. 
Duffy  sharply  catechised  the  police,  and  denied  the 
right  of  the  hitter  to  search  suspected  localities  with- 
out a  warrant.     He  wanted  to  expose  the  fact  that 
"according  to  IJriti.sh   law,  a  constable  can  arrest  a 
man  for  treason  without  a  warrant"  in  Ireland.     The 
chief  poli(.'e  magistrate  declined  to  discuss  the  point, 
and  Duffy  called  on  the  members  of  the  press  who 
were  present  to  note  the  fact,  "  in  order,"  as  he  said, 
"  that  the  public  may  know  under  what  sort  of  law  wo 
are   living."     Mr.    Duffy   was    committed,   with   his 
friends,  Stephens,  Kickham,  and  Brophy,  to  liiclimond 
jail. 

Mr,   Edward   Daffy  was  i-egai-ded   as  a  person  of 
more  than  usual  influence  in  the  organization— a  man 


, » 


1 1 


376 


FENIAN   HEROES  AND   MARTYES. 


of  capacity,  ability  and  resolution,  who  stood  high  in 
the  estimation  of  the  then  controlling  powers  of  the 
Brotherhood.     While  in  prison,  however,  grave  symp- 
toms of  disease  manifested  themselves,  which  threat- 
ened to  end  in  consigning  Mr.  Duffy  to  a  premature 
grave.     The   authorities,   seeing  his  health   such   as 
would  prevent  any  future  aid  to  the  cause  for  which 
he  was  arrested,  set  him  at  liberty.     He  went  to  the 
west  of  Ireland,  and,  in  company  with  a  young  man 
named  Thomas  Egan,  was  again  arrested  at  Boyle  in 
the   County  of  Koscommon,  on   the   11th  of  March, 
1866.     The  prisoners  were  immediately  conveyed  to 
Dublin ;  and  on  the  trial  of  Captain  McCafferty,  while 
the  informer  Corydon  was  being  examined,  Mr.  Duffy- 
was   brought  forward    for  identification   with   John 
Flood.     Duffy  was  characterized  as  "  the  organizer  for 
the  province  of  Connaught."     They  were  subsequent- 
ly brought  to  trial  at  the  Special  Commission,  Dublin; 
and  on  Friday,  17th  May,  Flood,  Duffy,  and  Michael 
Cody,  (who  attempted  to  shoot  his  captors,)  were  found 
guilty  of  treason-felony.     It  will  be  remembered  that 
Flood  and  McCafferty  were  arrested  on  the  23d  Feb- 
ruary, after  having  eluded  the  authorities  from  the 
day  of  the  Chester  demonstration ;  and  it  was  sought 
to  directly  connect  them  with  the  rising  of  the  5th 
March.      An    authoritative    communication    to    the 
Dublin  Irishman  contradicts  this,  and  we  are  in  a  po- 
sition to  know  that  the  statement  which  follows  is 
based  on  fact : 

"  Of  course  anything  that  I  can  say  now  cannot  alter  the  sen- 
tence of  the  law,  nor  be  of  any  benefit  to  the  prisoner ;  yet  it  is 


itMM 


FLOOD,   DUFFY,   AND   CODY*  377 

diTe  to  history  that  the  truth  should  be  known.  The  Dircctorv  of 
which  ,t  was  .supposed  that  Flood  and  MnP.ff  /  ^^rectovy,  of 
laad  beea  dissolved  Ion,  berore  tht;  eamet  S^^^^^ 

be  allowec^.  ^^^^^^  ^ ttt^  JeSr   'tLT  ^^^^ 
cleverly  "burked  "  hv  fho  n..  !,  "^^^  P^P^^  so 

know  of  tUat  e^r  T   '  ,       "  """«•  °<"' ''''»  •'"'y  "veu 

Mas.,0,  a„!it,s  Intm«  o  s  11  X  fX""  «"-  >™y«"  kept 
anc,  McCafltay  convic.r  T  o/LelZrth  ''h"*  '''°°'' 
either  on  the  trial  w„„.a  infalliW,  : ",  "  LL     Tow"  T  "' 

ana  con..  .,  S ne^r^ ^ ^f  .tr,  '"  "^" 

On  Tuesday,  the  21st  May,  Flood,  Dnffy,  and  Cody 
were  bi-otj^dU  up  for  sentence.  In  reply  to  the  n^.i 
question  Flood  stood  forward,  and  in' a^tro„:  X^ 
voice  and  pleasant  utterance,  said :  °' 

K:'^:t7;ofrrc —;';-'"  ""™-'*--"- 

Crydon.     I  will  ,av  t   ,    Tw  ,         ™°''°-     ^"  '"=8"'  *'* 

desf*e,  .rLrJir: ::' iru:;:,";tr""°^.''» 

about  it,  and  I  believe  th^t  thn  n       ""^^^'P^^'-     ^  knew  nothing 

ha„*  «:„  means  of  ColXttTe  s^'i  Tv   "1  ""  '"^'^ 
sey's  evidence  would  L  f«   v  "^  ^^^'^^<^  ^^^^  Mas- 

wa^s  a  T>.eZyZZTi:ZZLT  ^:^'  '"T  T' ' 
evidence  in  their  hand<,  pn.!  ^    t  ,        ''^'^-     ^^^  Crown  had  that 

«.a.  Place  in  cir 'U   eT^  ,1;  Tt™"  ",  ^^  -in 

swore  concernine-  me  wa^  a  f«ic  7   II  ^""^"^  ^°^^  ^^ 


I 


^'       It' 


)! 

i! 

h     i! 


i    ,  i 


i 


fljf,  f 


i 


» 


378 


FENIAN   HEE0E8   AND   MARTYRS. 


they  did  tell  the  truth,  and  that  I  was  in  Manchester  at  the  time. 
Therefore,  I  say,  the  Crown  held  possession  of  evidence,  which 
they  withheld,  to  prove  that  I  was  not  at  Chester  at  the  time  the 
detective  swore  I  was.  I  positively  declare  that  the  detective 
never  saw  me  there,  for  I  was  not  there.  Now  the  evidence  of 
Dawson,  that  very  effective  detective,  beai's  falsehood  on  the  face 
of  it.  He  swears  he  saw  me,  and  knew  my  appearance,  about 
town  for  a  length  of  time,  and  met  me  in  Burke's  public  house, 
where  I  never  was  in  my  life.  A  strange  coincidence  is  that  on 
tliat  night  he  saw  me  enter  a  drill-room.  Can  any  one  believe  that 
that  is  true?  Now  I  say  I  have  been  unfairly  dealt  with  other- 
wise, and  I  say  that,  by  a  sort  of  legal  legerdemain,  I  have  been 
placed  on  trial  here  on  the  terrible  charge  of  assassination.  No 
man  in  this  court  could  regard  such  a  charge  with  greater  horror 
than  I  do.  No  man  has  a  gi-eater  horror  of  it,  and  I  never  heard 
of  such  an  odious  and  abominable  conspiracy  as  the  witness 
Mearahad  deposed  to.  lam  sure  that  no  tiae  Irishman  would 
attempt  to  have  anything  to  do  with  such  a  thing.  I  heard  noth- 
ing about  it,  and  I  do  say  that,  if  I  should  have  been  tried  with 
any  one,  I  should  have  been  tried  with  IVIcCatferty,  the  man  with 
•whom  I  was  identified,  and  with  whom  I  was  arrested,  I  might 
have  got  a  fair  trial  then,  but  I  declare  I  have  not  had  a  fair  trial. 
There  has  been  an  extreme  course  adopted  by  the  Crown  toward 
me  from  my  arrest  to  the  present  hour.  I  say  they  had  evidence 
in  their  possession  which  would  have  gone  to  prove  my  innocence, 
and  it  has  been  suppressed.  Let  them  deny  that.  The  Attorney- 
General  says  he  thinks  he  is  above  motives.  I  impute  no  motives. 
I  state  facts  and  leave  the  world  to  judge.  You  saw  how  the  iden- 
tification has  been  proved  against  me  by  that  woman  from  Chester. 
I  will  tell  you  how  such  a  thing  is  carried  on.  We  were  taken  to 
Mountjoy  and  paraded  before  the  Detective  I'olice,  and  day  after 
day  came  groups  of  people,  either  mformers  or  detectives  from 
England  or  elsewhere,  always  accompanied  Ijy  on'  or  more  of  the 
detectives  who  came  there  the  day  before  ;  and  I  do  not  know  but 
these  people  were  told,  'That's  Flood,'  or  'That's  McCafTerty.' 
If  they  had  come  forward  and  identified  me  properiy,  they  should 
have  said,  'You  are  the  man  I  saw  in  Chester,  or  Liverpool,'  aa 


FLOOD,  DtUTY,  AKD  CODT. 


379 

country  through  my  whole  life  Rlmni7  '"^'"^  "'^ 

wretched  indeed,  fori  till  f  "'"'''  ^'  '^^^^^^^^^''  ^  «'» 

sworn  falsely  ao-ainst  ,J     r  ,  ^ "''""™'  "''•     Ho  l.as 

sociation  sincerelv  for  m,.  .       /  ,  °  "^  ^"^"^"'^  t^^e  as- 

*..y  to ,.,  co„.„,,.y  i,  pa„"of  his  c,:  ;rGo<  ':•:;;:' :,  "r"' 

fact,  miplaiits  the  fceliii"  of  n,.,i  ,■       •  ''"  """'  "» 

who  know,  whollier  r     °  ri,r  '  '"    ""  ""'"""  "''=»«•  "'«' 

outbreak.  a,n  no.r LJot^ '^"'j:,';^  ^J  *■*  ™'-     ^0,-  the  la.; 

I  feel  bound,  in  inMce  to  nw»lf  ,  !,  .'  ''  '"'  "  '»''"'''•    " 

on  the  trials' tlJt  St;:,,:!"^  'I  "pZ: "'^h a!  '"'  '""  '"^' 
and  It  may  be  well  that  it  should  t  >t  be  left  ,  .""t"  '"'""''"> 
but  too  well  known  in  Ireland  thah         .   ™'=o»"-adicted.     It  i, 

to  %ht,  promising  .hem  o  „  wt*  ,  T'™  "'  '"™  ""'' 
come.  The  tin.e  did  e ,m  b^t lo  IV^"'.",  ^""'  ""  "'™  """"' 
"-'".Kl.     He  went  to  Prane'e  L  se    th^Pa*  E^lv  ^'  'T'""' 

ua^:t\^:Tri.rdrt;1"'""^^^^^^^^ 

ueiaud,  lost  to  his  country.     There  are  a 


R  I 


1 


!m 


380 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


few  things  that  I  would  wish  to  say  relative  to  the  evidence  given 
on  my  trial,  bnt  I  request,  my  loid,  that  you  would  give  me  per- 
mission to  make  those  remarks  after  sentence  has  b  !n  passed. 
They  solely  and  entirely  relate  to  the  evidence,  and  I  have  a  reason 
for  asking  why  I  should  be  allowed  to  say  them  after  sentence  has" 
been  passed. " 

The  Chief  Justice—"  That  is  not  the  usual  practice.  The  fact 
of  your  not  having  been  tried  for  your  life  makes  it  very  doubtful 
to  me  whether  you  should  speak  at  all  as  to  why  sentence  should 
not  be  passed  upon  you." 

The  prisoner— "  With  regard  to  the  first  piece  of  evidence,  I 
declare  before  my  God,  that  not  one  word  that  man  swore  against 
me  on  the  table  was  true.     lie  swore  he  saw  me  at  Enniskerry; 
but  I  never  spoke  to  him  on  any  political  subject,  or  that  T  ever 
knew  him  to  be  an  important  member  of  the  associati(m    ,ntil  I 
saw  the  informations,  I  declare  to  Heaven  I  never  did.     He  never 
spoke  to  me  in  my  life,  I  knew  him  from  the  time  he  was  a  child, 
and  I  knew  him  to  be  amoiig  the  vilest  and  worst  in  that  little 
town,  and  I  knew  the  character  he  was.     Is  it  to  be  supposed  that 
I  would  put  my  liberty  into  the  hands  of  such  a  character  ?     I 
never  did.     The  next  witness  is  Corydon.     He  swore  that  at  the 
meeting  to  which  he  referred,  I  gave  him  dir(  clions  to  go  to  Kerry 
to  O'Connor,  and   put  himself  in  commnnica!    )n  with  tliem.     I 
declare  to  my  God  that  every  word  of  that  is  false.     Whether 
O'Connor  was  in  the  country  or  whether  he  made  his  escape,  I 
knew  as   little   as  your  lordship,  and   never  heard  of  the   Kerry 
rising  till  the  tale  of  it  appeared  in  the  public  papers.     There  is 
not  a  Avord  of  that  that  is  not  false.     And  as  to  giving  the  Ameri- 
can officers  information,  before  my  God,  and  on  the  verge  of  my 
grave,  as  the  sentence  will  send  me  to  it,  I  say  that  is  also  false. 
As  to  the  writing  the  policeman  swore  to  in  that  book,  and  which 
is  not  a  prayer  book— it  is  an  'Imitation  of  Christ  given  to  me,' 
by  a  lady  to  whom  I  sfved  my  time— what  was  written  in  that 
book  was  written  by  another  young  man  who  was  in  her  emplov- 
ment.     That  is  his  and  not  my  writing.     That  is  the  writing  of  a 
young  man  in  the  house,  and  I  never  wrote  a  line  or  a  word  of  it." 


FLOOD,  DUFFY,  AND  CODY.  381 

The  Lord  Cl.i.'f  Justice—"  It  was  not  sworn  to  be  in  your  hand- 
writing, as  I  undorstaiul. " 

^   Prisoner— "Yes,  my  lord.     It  was  the  policeman  that  swore 
It  waH  in  my  handwriting," 

The  Loi-d  Chief  Justice-"  That  is  a  mistake.     It  was  said  to 
be  hke  yours,  but  it  was  not  given  in  evidence  against  you." 

Prisoner-"  It  was  said  to  bo  my  writing.  The  jury  have 
doomed  me  to  a  painful,  but  not  less  glorious  death.  I  bid  fare- 
well to  my  friends  and  all  who  are  dear  to  me.  There  is  yet  a 
world  wliere  souls  are  free,  and  in  that  world  I  would  sooner  be 
than  live  in  a  life  like  this.  I  am  proud  to  be  considered  worthy 
of  suffering  for  my  country,  and  when  I  am  in  my  lonely  cell 
durmg  the  longings  of  my  weaiy  spirit,  I  shall  not  forget  Ireland' 
and  my  constant  prayer  shall  be  that  the  God  of  Li))erty  may  give 
her  time  and  strength  to  shake  oft'  her  chains.  (Addressing  the 
reporters)— I  would  not  wish  it  to  be  supposed  that  it  was  on  ac- 
count of  my  position  now  that  I  spoke  as  I  did  I  am  not  able  to 
speak  on  account  of  my  disease,  and  I  do  not  wish  it  said  that  it 
was  on  account  of  my  position.     It  is  on  account  of  my  iUness." 

Michael  Cody  was  regarded  as  a  very  dangerous 
cliaracter,  and  tlie  names  of  the  judges,  prosecuting 
counsel,  and  jurors  who  tried  Bourlje  and  Doran  hav- 
ing been  found  upon  him,  gave  a  pretext  to  the  au- 
thorities to  extend  unusual  severity  to  him.  When 
his  turn  came  to  address  the  court,  he  said : 

"As  to  the  evidence  of  Foley,  there  are  two  men  prepared  to 
say  he  never  saw  me  until  he  was  brought  to  Kilmainham 
Meagher  says  he  met  me  in  company  with  Baines,  in  the  Canal 
Tavern,  with  a  parcel  of  bowie-knives.  This,  also,  is  false ,  for  I 
never  had  a  bowie-knife  in  my  possession,  but  one  which  was 
found  in  my  possession  in  Lesson  Lane.  As  to  my  acquaintance 
with  St.  Clair,  Devoy,  and  others,  I  feel  proud  to  be  acquainted 
witli  them.    From  the  moment  I  became  sensible  of  my  arrest, 


382 


Pi 


FENIAN   HEKOES  AND  MAIiTYiJS. 


I  waa  fully  ooiindent  that  a  case  would  bo  truTinr^fl  „n  „     •    , 
and  I  am  not  disappoiurod  with  the  v  r^t      aTJ  r  ""'^  T' 
alHo  swears  that  he  knew  mo  in  ISOora-uThatl  flHod  h""''       '•   ' 

c  Wter,  and  in  JustL  to  tli  ^Zl.::VV:T:  IZT^ 
the  dungeons  of  Portland   T  fi.i»ir  t  i  .       "^^"  "^"^  are  m 

Mr  Baroa  Dcasy  then  proceeded  to  pass  sentence. 

Roo'C  Dlff   r  °''^«'--'--'  '-  f""y  exonerated 
i  lood  and  Dnffy  from  any  connection  witli  the  assas- 

1.1-Bn   leais    l-enal  Servitude  each.     Tlie 
evidence  "  produced  ajjain.t  Cody  on  his  trial  and 

tiie  Couit     to  give  him  Twenty  years 

_  Alter  the  sentence  had  been  pronounced,  tlie  con- 
victs were  removed  from  the  cells  beneath  the  court 
and  conveyed  to  Mountjoy  prison  oscorted  bymoun  ed 
police,  and  two  troops  of  the  Ninth  Lancers 


1 


my- 


m 


■H  \   |.'  '  <•   A    I  t  4   >  I  1 


f  f 


li'i: 


i\ 


Iff '  ■'■ 


M 


A.  < 


GENERAL  JOHN  o'nEILL, 


383 


GENERAL  JOHN  O'NEILL. 

Birfh-Lora!  Inspiration  at  Clontlbret-EmlgrateB  to  U.  8.-At  BuBlno.s-Mil- 
U«.y  L.an.n.,«-Goo«  to  tho  Mor.non  VVar-Tho  Rebellion  8e  vice.  In-. 
fnrCr'Vh'In'T  ^-!^-^-^^'-^--nt  Of  the  5th  iLianaTv „1  Jl 
n  .  ";  '  ^^•"■«'"'  «  Men  at  Buffln^ton  Bar-Sick-FightinK  Aealn- 
Re«i.„s-R,„nantlc  Marriaijo-A  Fenian-The  Representatlte  Man  of  he 

B  He  of  Tr''''''  'rT""  ""'  ^«-'l'»-"«  Comn^ands  tho  Expeditiol- 
Battle  of  R  (1,'oway-Conmct  at  Fort  .Erie-Not  Hupported-Arrested  by 
U.  3.  Authorities  while  Re-crosBintf.  Arrested  Dy 

John  O'Neill  was  born  in  the  townland  of  Drum- 
gallon,   parish   of  Clontibret,  County  Mona-han,   on 
the  8th  of  March,  1834.     His  fathe;  died  five  weeks 
before  the  birth  of  his  son,  and  his  mother  came  to 
America  in  1840,  accompanied  by  a  brother,  leavin(? 
the  children,  two  sons  and   a   daughter,  with  their 
grand  parents  in  Monaghan.     Three  years  afterwards 
she  sent  for  the  two  eldest  .  ..ildren,  the  youno-cst 
John,  being  allowed  to  remain  at  the  earnest  request 
of  his  relatives.     He  availed  himself  of  the  opportu- 
nities  for  such  education  as  the  school  attached  to 
Clontibret  Church  afforded ;  and,  in  the  historic  lore 
of  the  locality,  had  his  young  blood  stirred  with  tales 
of  the  great  hero  of  his  race,  Hugh  O'Neill,  who  at 
this  place,  in  1595,  put  Elizabeth's  troops,  under  Sir 
John  Norris,  to  rout,  and  killed  in  single  combat  Sed- 
grave,  who  was  esteemed  the  most  valiant  and  power- 


It 


?l 


38t 


VUmAS   HEKOKS   AND   JIAKTVKS. 


ful  Chan,,,;,,,,  i„   the  K„j;lisl,  pale.     D„„btl,.s3  tl.eso 
"r:  ■";;'.  !"'^'^  *^"-^'  "-  '-i--"'-"  whicl.  oi,ened  the 

In   tl.e  .S,.nn..  of  1848  the  hoy  O'l^ei]!   canio  to 
Anioiicu  ami  jo,nc(l   his   mother  in  Eh-.abcth,  New 
Jersey.     Aitor  uttendir:,  school  for  a  year  he  entered 
astoie  as  clerk,  nMvin.h  position  he  remained   1(>sb 
u.n  tlnve  yea..      This  business  did  not  suit  his  aml.i- 
•ouB  nature.     Jle  wanted  to  see  the  world-to  choose 
his  own  vocation.     Quick,  intelligent  and  reliable,  ho 
started  ont  when  little  more  than  seventeen  years  of 
age  to  carve  out  his  fortune.      He  travelc>d  L  agent 
for  a  JSew  lork   pnblishing  honse  through  New  Jer- 
eeyl  emisylvania,  and    ]\Ia,yland,  and  subsequently 
in  Virgnua,  as  agent  of  a  London  House.     In  the  Fall 
of  ISoo,  he  started  a  Catholic  bookstore  in  Kichmond 
but  t,ie  enterprise  failed  for  lack  of  Catholic  popula- 
tion and  spn-it  in  that  city. 

O'Neill's  leanings  had  always  been  to  a  military 
life,  and  he  had  only  been  prevented  from  enterino- 
upon  It  by  the  opposition  of  his  mother  and  relatives" 
He  liad  now  mixed  considerably  with  the  world* 
Travel  had  but  added  to  his  soldier  sympathies,  and 
when  the  Mormon  War  was  the  chief  toi.ic  of  si^ecu- 
lation,  he  enlisted  in  the  Second  Dragoons  at  Balti- 
more,  May,   1857.     When   the  Rebellion   broke   out 

0  Neill  was  serving  in  the  Ist  Cavalry  at  Fort  Crook 
California,  and  accompanied  that  regiment  to  the  At- 
lantic side,  arriving  in  Washington  on  Christmas  day 
1861.     He  served   under  McClellan   throughout  the 

1  enmsula  campaign,  had  command  of  General  Stone- 


«S3  these 
wied  the 

camo  to 

th,  New 

entered 

lU'd   less 
lisiiiiihi- 
)  clioose 
able,  lie 
jeui-a  of 
IS  agent 
ew  Jer- 
ijuentlj 
he  Full 
hmond, 
popula- 

lilitarj 
riterinc: 
liitives. 
world. 
DS,  and 
s]>ecu- 
Balti- 
^e  out 
Crook, 
be  At- 
s  day, 
lit  the 
Stone- 


QENEKAL  JOHN  oVeiLL.  335 

rami's  hody  guard  at  the  battle  of  \V',u;       ^        , 
was  through   thesevon  .1.  /       V\  dlianisburgh; 

'"Hi  ha,l  IdH  h  Hsn    r        -^T  '"  ^''''^  «^'  I^i^'l»"Hmd 
i-t  bet;  .e    be    I,    P^^^ 

tlie  l8t  Cavalrv  wn«  /  !      Harnson's  Landing, 

-re  sent  on  ^^    h ^^^.l^^^^f  ^^  ;>^H-« 

^.ion,»a:i;;;:^y:::--^^^^ 

being  organised  for  the  iielll.     (^Nei  1    .ad  b  " 

vate,  eo,^oral,  se^^eant,  and  a^^^^^^J^' 
the  regular  cavalry,  and  now  left  fbn^  ''       '" 

cent  the  position   nf  Q        T  r         ^  ^^^'■'''^'*^'  <^«  a«- 

Indiana  Ca~  '""'   ^""^"^^^^^^  "^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

Morgan  tl.rough  Kentuek^,  Indiana  inrOn/    ?^^ 

p-.,  the  ^^JZ'Xj:rx^i:r::^'^' 

came  of  common  occurrence      A    c  i  r        ?       '    ^®" 

^vith  hi.,  writing  fr„.'x,Lijtr:;'';rf 

68,  Bays :  "We  know  of  seven  reI,ob  he  h':s  1  ilW  l!l' 
Jiis  own  hands.     Weknowl„wi    ""7  "''f  ^'"m  with 

200  rebels  with  J,  .'n      W  t'^'f  1  "'', '""  '"  ^■"" 
ro.in,ents  of  Morgan's  ;on!:a  ;  '^     'fit?  '^n'  ^^ 
took  tl„.ee  of  their  guns.     Let  every  office   in    he   e 
v.ee  do  that  well,  and  the  privates  l^l^^ 


I 


I 


I 


q  I:   fi 


■ '  1 


386 


FENIAN  HEROES  ANT)  MARTYRS. 


balance."  His  achievement  with  Morgan's  regiments 
we  give  almost  in  the  words  of  Archbishop  Purcell, 
of  Cincinnati : 

General  Judah  left  Pomeroy  for  EiifRngton  on  tlie 
night  of  the  19th  July,  1863.  He  sent  first  Lieuten- 
ant O'Neill  with  fifty  men  ahead  to  try  and  open 
communications  with  the  militia,  said  to  be  in  close 
proximity.  He  arrived  an  hour  and  a  half  after  day- 
light, learned  that  the  militia  had  been  skirmishing 
during  the  night,  and  that  Judah's  advance  had 
been  ambushed — the  morning  being  very  foggy — and 
the  General's  A.  A.  G.,  Captain  Kise,  and  the  Chief 
of  Artillery,  Captain  Henshaw,  some  thirty  men, 
with  one  piece  of  artillery,  captured  and  carried 
to  Morgan's  headquarters,  on  the  river  road,  some  two 
miles  ahead.  The  Lieutenant  at  once  resolved  to  re- 
capture them,  and  kept  steadily  on.  Several  parties 
tried  to  stop  him,  but  a  volley  invariably  drove  them 
back.  At  length  he  came  on  Morgan  with  two  regi- 
ments and  a  body  guard  of  one  hundred  men.  He 
halted  his  men  suddenly  at  an  angle  of  the  road  within 
a  hundred  and  fifty  paces.  He  was  prevented  from 
giving  them  a  volley  by  seeing  some  of  his  own  men 
in  front.  Giving  the  order  "  forward,"  he  dashed  in. 
Morgan  broke  and  ran.  All  of  our  men  were  re-cap- 
tured and  thirty  of  the  enemy  taken.  O'Neill  pur- 
sued. Morgan  for  two  miles  and  captured  three  pieces 
of  artillery.  "  This,"  says  Archbishop  Purcell,  "  was 
the  last  of  Morgan  on  the  field." 

After  the  Morgan  chase,  Lieutenant  O'Neill  experi- 
enced a  very  severe  illness,  and  lay  at  the  point  of 


was 


GENERAL  JOHN  o'nEILL.  387 

death  for  weeks  in  Rising  Sun,  Indiana.     Joining  his 
regnnent   on   the   10th  November,  he  was   severely 
wounded  on  the  2d  December,  while  gallantly  and 
successfully  repelling  a  charge  of  the  en^rny  at  Walk- 
.ers  Ford    Cii^eh  River,  East  Tennessee.     Here,  the 
Colonel  failmg  to  rally  the  men,  O'Keill  took  com- 
mand.      ^  He  rode  out  all  the  day,  never  seeking  shel- 
ter,  cheering  the  men.     When  ot  her  officers  had  given 
up  all  as  lost,  he  replied,  'not  by  a  long  sight'     He 
met  with  a  hearty  response  from  the  men."'    He  was 
wounded  while  successfully  making  the   last  stand. 
Compelled  to  take  rest,  he  received  leave  of  absence, 
and  lor  the  first  time  in  seven  years  visited  his  mother 
and  relatives  at  their  :N"ew  Jersey  homes. 
^    Returning  to  his   regiment,   and  finding  political 
mfluence   stronger   than  soldierly  merit,    Lieutenant 
ONeill    resigned.      At    his    own    request    he    was 
appointed  Captain  in  the  11th  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry 
and  was  detailed  on  the  Military  Examining  Board! 
sit  mg  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.     He  was  promised  the 
Colonelcy  oi  a  colored jegiment  of  cavalry;    but  the 
orgamzation    of   these    troops    was    dispensed   with 
towards  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  Captain's  wound 
becoming  troublesome,  he  tendered  his  resignation  to 
the  War  Department,  which  was  accepted  November, 
1854.     He  got  married  about  this  time,  under  roman- 
tic  circaimstances.     A  young  lady-Miss  Mary  Crow 
-to  whom  he  had  been  engaged  in  California,  hear- 
ing of  his  wounds,  came  from  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
with  a  family  of  her  acquaintance,  to  nurse  and  tend 
the  hero  to  whom  she  had  pledged   her  troth.     Plia 


(1 


ill 


3S8 


FENIAN   HEEOES   AND   MARTYRS. 


Bl 


fc  ' 


devotion  was  equal  to  her  faitli,  and  he  at  once  gave 
lier  the  right  to  coniibrt  him  as  a  wife. 

In  May,  1865,  Captain  O'Neill  opened  an  office  In 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  was  remarkably  successful. 
This  he  gave  up  to  fulfil  wliat  he  believed  to  be.  his 
duty  in  following  the  policy  adopted  by  the  seceding' 
wing  of  the  Fenian  Organization.     Ilis   connection 
with  the  invasion  of  Canada,  makes  him  the  represen- 
tative military  man  of   the   Canadian  party — and, 
indeed,  regarding  that  invasion  as  the  result  of  the 
policy  of  that  party,  he  may  be  regarded  as  the  most 
comprehensive  representative  man  of  the  spirit  of  that 
party  in  its  entirety.     Tlie  record  of  General  O'Neill 
in  this  especial  connection,  is  made  from  his  official 
report,  kindly  fcrnished  at  the  request  of  the  writer. 
=  In  obedience  to  ordeis,  Colonel  O'Neill  left  Nash- 
ville on  the  27th  May,  1866,  and  arrived  at  Buffalo, 
H.  T,»  on  the  SOtli,     Being  the  senior  officer  present, 
he  was  designated  to  lead  the  projected  expedition. 
On  the  night  of  the  31st,  eight  hundred  men  were 
reported— detachments  from  the  following  regiments  : 
13th  Infantry,  Colonel  John  O'Neill ;  17th  Infantry, 
Colonel  Owen  Starr ;  18th  Infanty,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Grace ;  7th  Infantry,  Colonel  John  Hoy ;  and  two 
companies  from  Indiana,  under  Captain  Ilaggerty ; 
but  not  more  than  six  hundred  were  got  together  when 
the  crossing  took  place.     The  movement  commenced 
at  midnight.     At  3:30  a.  m.  on  June  1st,  the  men  and 
arms  and  ammunition  were  put  on  board  four  canal 
boats  at  a  point  called  Little  Black  Rock.     They  were 
towed  across  the  Niagara  river,  and  landed  at  Water- 


|i-      { 


TENIAN   HEROES   AND   MARTYR3.  ggj) 

loo.     At  4  o'clock  in  tlie  morning  the  Irisli  fla-  was 
displayed  on  British  soil  by  Colonel  Starr,  who  com- 
manded the  two  iirst   boats.      On  landiiur    O'Neill 
ordered  the  telegraph  wires  to  be  cut  down,  and  sent 
a  prirty  to  destroy  the  railroad  bridge  leading  to  Port 
Colborne.     Starr,  with   the   Kentucky  and  Indiana 
contingents,  proceeded  through  the  town  of  Erie  to 
the  old  Fort,  some  three  miles  up  the  river,  and  occu- 
pied It.     O  Neill  then  demanded  subsistence  of  the 
citizens  of  Erie,  assuring  them  that  no  depredations 
would  be  permitted,  and  his  request  was  cheerfully 
comphed  with.     At  10  o'clock  he  moved  into  camp  at 
^fewbiggm'sfarm,  on  Frenchman's  Creek,  four  miles 
from  Fort  Erie,  down  the  river,  and  occupied  it  until 
10  P  M.     Some  of  his  men  on  a  foraging  excursion  on 
me  Chippewa  road,  had  come  up  with  the  enemy's 
scouts,  and  towards  night  O'l^eill  received  intellio-ence 
that  a  large  force  (said  to  be  5,000)  with  artiHery 
were  advancing  in  two  columns— one  from  Chippewa 
the  other  from  Port  Colborne-also,  that  troops  from' 
the  latter  were  to  attack  him  from  the  Lake  side.     At 
this  time,  owing  to  straggling  and  desertion,  O'JSTeill'a 
force  was  not  more  than  five  hundred  men.     The  odds 
were  terrible,   but  the  commander  was   schooled  in 
danger.     At  10  p.  m.  he  broke  camp,  and  marched 
towards  Chippewa,  and  at  midnight  changed  direc- 
tion, and  moved  on  the  Lime  Stone  Ridge  road  lead 
ing  towards  Ridgeway.     His  object  was  to  meet  the 
column  coming  from  Port  Colborne-to  get  between 
tlie  two  columns,  and  defeat  one  before  the  other  could 
render  aid. 


'%f 


390 


GENEEAL   JOHN   o'nEILL. 


i 


*'Js^siaa*5^ , 


w- 


At  about  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of    2d  Juno, 
within  three  milei^  of  "T'klgeway,  Colonel  Starr,  com- 
manding the  advance,  came  up  with  the  advance  of 
the  enemy,  mounted.     He  drove  them  within  sight  of 
their  skirmish  line,  which  extended  about  half  a  mile 
on  both  sides  of  the  road.     O'Neill  immediately  ad- 
vanced his  skirmishers  and  formed  a  line  of  battle 
behind  temporary  breastworks  made  of  rails,  on  a  road 
leading  to  Fort  Erie,  and  parallel  with  the  enemy. 
The  skirmishing  was  briskly  kept  up  for  half  an  hour. 
Tlie  enemy  was  attempting  to  ilank  O'J^eill  on  both 
sides  ;  and  he  failed  to  draw  their  centre,  which  was 
partially  protected  by  thick  timber.     In  this  exigency 
he  fell  back  a  few  hundred  yards,  and  formed  a  new 
line.     The  British,  seeing  how  few  the  invading  troops 
were,  became  adventurous.     They  supposed  O'JN^eill 
had  retr.ated,  and  advanced  in  pursuit.     J^Tow  was 
O'Neill's  chance,  and  he  did  not  ftiil  to  take  it.     The 
British  come  on  rapidly  after  the  Irish,  who  "  retreat " 
not  quite  so  rapidly.     They  come  nearer  and  nearer — 
now  they  are  near  enough  for  O'Neill's  purpose.     He 
gives   his   orders  with  decision ;    a  volley  stops  the 
career  of  the  British  ;  it  is  their  turn  to  retreat — but 
they  retreat  in  earnest,  with  the  Irish  after  them  in 
earnest  too  ;  driving  them  for  three  miles,  and  through 
the  town  of  Ridgeway.     In  their  retreat,  the  British 
threw  away  knapsacks,  guns,  and  everything  likely  to 
retard  their  speed,  and  loft  some  ten  or  twelve  killed, 
nearly  thirty  wounded,  with  twelve  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  Irish.     O'Neill  gave  up  the  pursuit  one 
mile  beyond  Ridgeway. 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MABTTRS. 


391 


Althono^,   victorious,   O'Neill's '  position  was  very 
critical      The  reported  strength  of  the  enemy  he  had 
engaged  was  1,400,  embracing  the  "  Queen's  Own," 
the  Hamilton  Battalion,  and  other  troops.     A  regi- 
ment from  Port  Colborne  was  said  to  be  on  the  road 
to  reinforce  them.     The  column  from  Chippewa  would 
also  hear  of  the  fight,  and  move  on  his  rear  with  all 
celeritv      Thus  situated,  he  decided  to  return  to  Fort 
i^rie  and  learn  if  reinforcements  for  the  invading  army 
had  been  sent  across   at  any  other  points.      Seeing 
after  the  dead   and   wounded,   he   divided  his   com 
mand,  and  sent  Starr  with  one  half  down  the  Railroad 
to  destroy  it  and  the  bridges,  and  led  the  rest  on  the 
pike-road  to  Fort  Erie.     They  united  at  the  old  fort 
at  4  P.  M^^   O'Neill  next  had  a  skirmish  with  the 
Welland  Battery,  which  had  arrived  there  from  Port 
Colborne  in  the  morning,  and  had  picked  up  some 
stragglers  and  deserters.     The  enemy  fired  from  the 
liouses.     Three  or  four  men  were  killed,  and  twice 
that  number  were  wounded  on  both  sides.     Here  the 
Irish  captured  forty-five  prisoners,  among  them  Cap- 
j^ain   ]^mg,  wounded-who  had  his  leg  amputated; 
L.entenant  McDonald,  Royal  Navy,  and  Lieutenant 
^emo,  Royal  Artillery.     Taking  precautions  against 
surprisal,   O  Neill  put  himself  in  communicatioirwith 
his  friends  in  Buffalo,  stating  his  desperate  position 
He  was  willing,  if  a  movement  was  going  on  else- 
where, to  hold  out ;  and,  if  necessary,  to  make  the  old 
Fort  a  slaughter-pen  sooner  than  surrender.-    His  mm 
were  without  food  or  supplies,  and  had  marched  forty 
miles,  and  had  two  conflicts.      When,  therefore   he 


Pj^ImA 


392 


GENERAL  JOHN   o'NEIi.L. 


I  ■ 


learned  that  no  crossing  had  been  made  in  his  aid,  ho 
promptly  demanded  transportation,  which  was  fur- 
nished about  midnight  of  the  2d  June.  They  wero 
all  on  board  by  2  a.  m.,  and  when  in  American  waters, 
they  were  arrested  by  the  American  authorities.  So 
ended  the  invasion  of  Canada.  The  commanding 
officer,  under  the  trying  circumstances  by  which  he 
was  surrounded,  displayed  undoubted  capacity.  If  he 
had  been  supported,  there  is  no  doubt  he  would  have 
added  to  his  military  distinction. 

Having  been  released  on  his  own  recognizance  to 
answer  the  charge  of  violation  of  the  IN'eutrality  Laws, 
General  O'Neill  returned  to  Tennessee.  He  subse- 
quently took  up  liis  abode  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
where  he  hopes  to  repair  the  inroads  made  upon  his 
property.  He  said  to  a  friend  recently  that  the  ser- 
vices to  the  cause,  thus  briefly  described,  have  dam- 
aged his  fortunes  to  the  amount  of  at  least  thirty 
thousand  dollars. 


fr^r?^ 


FENIAU   HEEOES   AJUD  MAltTYIlS. 


303 


DECLABATIONS   IN  THE  DOCK. 

Moore,  tho  Plkomaker  -John  Haltlfjan-Bryan  T>mon-,Tohn  Lynch-Jcremlnh 

-i  el  O'CmmSr  w'lr  "  '^f'"'"^-^'  «^vyer  K.ane-Martin  Hanly Carey 
Jame«  Flood-Hugh  Fran,  is  Brophy-PutricrDof:n-M   a  oirc^^^^^^^^^ 

Michael  Moore,  a  blacksmith,  was,  on  tlio  Gth  De- 
cember, 1805,  placed  at  the  bar,  and  indicted  for  con- 
spirmg  to  depose  tlie  Queen,  to  levj  war  upon  her 
and  stir  up  strangers  to  invade  Ireland.  ' 

The  Attorney-General  stated  the  case,  reading  a 
number  of  documents  and  letters,  which  referred  to 
the  prisoner's  connection  with  the  recognized  Fenian 
leaders  in  Ireland  and  America.  The  testimony  of 
the  informers,  Nagle  and  Power,  was  the  same  as  on 
previous  tritils.  Mr.  Butt,  Queen's  Counsel,  addressed 
the  jury  for  the  defence,  and  was  followed  by  the  So- 
licitor-General on  the  part  of  the  Crown. 

The  prisoner,  who  was  found  guilty,  having  been  asked  by  the 
clerk  of  the  Crown  if  he  had  anything  to  say  why  sentence  should 
not  be  passed  upon  him,  said  that  with  regard  to  his  trial,  what  ho 
had  to  say  was  that  the  verdict  was  not  altogether  unexpected  on 
his  part,  after  the  charge  he  heard  from  the  judge.  He  had  been 
brought  there  unexpectedly.  He  did  not  expect  to  be  brought 
into  that  court  to  b«  tried  for  what  he  was  accused  of.     Hebe 


394 


DECLARATIONS   m    THE  TK)CK. 


Hevod  ho  was  no  g,i,lty  in  any  case.  Ho  was  firmly  convinced 
ho  was  fonn.l  guilty  b.foro  ho  was  triod.  Fnnn  thJ  first  day  he 
entorod  11,0  ja.l  ho  was  suro  that  would  bo  tho  caso.     Thorofbre 

who  had  touud  hun  guilty  woro  satistiod  ho  was  guilty,  for  thoy 
had  found  lum  guilty  of  that  in  which  he  took  to  act  or  part 
whatovor  Tho  jury  ha.l  done  thoir  duty  as  far  as  tho  law  ro- 
quued-fhe  law  which  govomod  Ireland,  which  niado  an  honost 
man  become  a  "rebel,'' as  thoy  termed  it,  and  n.ado  him  oven 
worse  than  that.     He  could  not  say  a  great  deal  in  his  ownT 

humble  workmg  man.  When  a  man  was  found  guilty  of  high 
reason  for  stnvmg  to  earn  an  honest  livelihood  in  his  own  co4. 
ry  he_  just  put  that  forward  as  a  sample  of  what  those  who  had 
to  hvc  m  this  country  had  to  expect.  He  was  now  done,  except 
merely  to  ask  that  a  few  articles  of  his  in  the  jail,  with  some  other 
httle  matters  m  the  hands  of  the  police,  belonging  to  him,  would 
be  given  to  his  wife.  >  « 

The  prisoner  spoke  in  a  firm  voice,  but  at  the  same 
time  with  a  quietness  of  demeanor. 

Judge  Keogh  promised  that  Moore's  request  should 
be  granted,  and  tlien  passed  sentence  on  him  of  ten 
years'  penal  servitude. 

John  IIaltigan,  the  registered  printer  of  the  Insh 
I'eoj>le,  was  indicted  and  tried  for  treason-felony  and 
conspn-acy  on  the  8th  December,  1805.  Mr  Ilaltio-in 
had  identified  himself  with  Irish  nationality  fi^oni 
youth.  "^ 

Haltigan  was  foreman  printer  in  the  office  of  the 
Ailkenny  Journal;  and  when  Fenianism  first  started 
was  one  amongst  its  earliest  members,  always  ready 
with  his  means  ;  and  nominally  the  head  of  the  organ- 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MAKTYE8. 


395 


ization  in  Kilkenny  sinoo  1859,  he  became  actually 
so  after  the  incarceration  of  P.  M.  Delany,  and  in 
tliat  capacity  extended  the  ortran ization  all  over  the 
country.  Jle  became  printer  of  the  Irish  Peoj>le, 
and  with  T.  0.  Luby  and  O'Donovan  (Rossa),  was  a 
registered  proprietor.  He  spent  most  of  his  time, 
however,  traveling  throngh  diflferent  parts  of  Ireland 
•with  authoritative  messages,  and  organizing.  His 
movements  were  narrowly  watched  by  the  detectives ; 
and  the  police  throughout  the  County  Kilkenny  had 
special  orders  to  be  on  liis  trail. 

"I  remember  well,"  says  Mr.  T.  P.  McKenna,  "the 
day  appointed  for  the  nomination  of  candidates  for 
parliament  for  the  county  of  Kilkenny,  when  all  the 
Fenians,  preceded  by  a  band,  were  coming  in  from 
Callan  with  Dunne,  the  nailor,  who  was  put  up  as 
member  for  the  county,  Coyne  and  Cody,  of  Callan, 
and  Ilaltigan  in  the  foremost  rank.     Dunne  having 
his  placards  posted   throughout  the   county  that  he 
would  attend  to  receive  the  nomination  at  the  Court 
House  in  Kilkenny,  the  autliorities  at  Dublin  Castle 
thought  it  prudent  to  send  an  extra  detaclimont  of  sol- 
diers to  that  city.     The  Fenians  marched  '  four  deep ' 
through  the  city  to  the  Court  House ;  but  drawn  up 
on  the  street  through  which  they  had  to  pass  was  a 
detachment   of  lancers,   lieaded    by   the  stipendiary 
magistrate,  who  ordered  them  to  halt,  and  told  them 
he  would  not  permit  them  to  pass.     Haltigan's  face 
got  flushed,  and  going  forward  he  told  the  magistrates 
that  they  would  pass  if  it  cost  them  their  lives. 
The  officials  half  cowered  at  the  threat,  and  said  they 


396 


DKCtARATIOIfS   IN  THE   DOCK. 


i 


Id 


^?f"r 


ill 


woula  bo  allowed  to  pass  if  tliey  got  out  of  military 
order.  Tliis  Ilaltigan  and  Coyne  would  not  consent 
to  do,  and  after  some  more  bandying  of  words  tluy 
were  permitted  to  pa^s.  This,  although  a  slight  inci- 
dent, is  characterirtic  of  the  manliness  and  determina- 
tion of  the  man." 

Haltigan  was  taken  the  night  of  the  seizure  of  tha 
Irish  People,  and  was  the  fourth  man  tried  at  tha' 
Special  Commision.  Tlie  day  preceding  his  trial,  an 
article  appeared  in  some  Dublin  daily  paper,  intima- 
ting that  if  his  antecedents  alone  were  investigated, 
it  would  be  sufficient  to  convict  him  on  his  trial.''  His 
counsel,  Mr.  P-Mney,  Q.  C,  had  the  article  next  day 
in  court,  and  contended  that  it  would  prejudice  his 
client's  case.  All  Judge  Keogh  did  was  to  say  the 
article  was  an  improper  one.  He  was  convicted!  In 
answer  to  the  formal  question,  the  prisoner  said  h« 
had  nothing  to  say,  and  was  then  sentenced  to  seven 
years'  penal  servitude. 

Haltigan  turned  round,  leaned  over  the  edge  of  tha 
dock  and  kissed  his  son  who  stood  near  him— -a  lad  of 
about  sixteen  years  of  age,  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
nine — and  he  then  left  the  dock. 

The  son,  true  to  the  principles  for  which  his  father 
was  exiled— true  to  the  promise  made  him  in  the  dock 
— was  indefatigable  in  his  exertions  to  extend  the  or- 
ganization. He  traveled  throughout  the  country  with 
messages  from  the  Chief,  and,  in  turn,  was  subjected 
to  the  vigilance  of  the  police.  On  the  suspension  of 
the  Habeas  Corpus  Act  he  had  to  secrete  himseltj  and 
came  to  America  in  the  Winter  of  '66-7. 


PENIAII  HEROES  AKD  MABTYE8. 


397 


iBiiYAN  Dillon,  of  Dillon's  Cross,  Cork,  was  tried 
at  the  Special  Commission,  Cork,  Friday,  lOtli  Decem- 
ber, 18()5,  and  found  guilty.  In  reply  to  the  usual 
question,  he  spoke  firmly,  but  inaudibly,  and  said: 

He  never  was  even  for  one  minute  in  Warner's  (the  informers) 
company ;  that  what  Warner  swore  about  him  was  totally  untrue, 
and  that  he  never  waa  at  a  meeting  at  Geary's  house.  The  exist- 
ence  of  the  Fenian  organization  had  been  proved  sufficiently  to 
their  lordships.  He  was  a  Centre  in  that  organization,  but  it  dia 
not  follow  from  that  that  he  had  to  take  the  chair  at  any  meeting, 
M  it  was  a  military  organization.  He  did  not  want  to  conceal 
anything.  Warner  had  no  connection  with  him  whatever.  With 
respect  to  the  observation  of  the  Attorney-General,  which  pained 
tiim  very  much,  that  it  was  intended  to  seize  property,  it  did  not 
follow  because  of  his  social  station  that  he  intended  to  appropriate 
the  property  of  others.  His  belief  in  the  ultimate  independence 
Of  Ireland  was  as  firm  as  his  religious  belief. 

Judge  Keogh— "  We  cannot  hear  that.  We  will  give  yon  any 
Indulgence  we  can,  but  we  cannot  hear  words  spoken  that  are  in 
fact  a  repetition  of  the  charge." 

Dillon  said  he  had  no  more  to  say. 

He  was  sentenced  to  ten  years'  penal  servitude. 

John  Lynch  was  tried  at  the  same  time  and  received 
the  same  sentence,  previous  to  which  he  said: 

«'  I  will  say  a  few  words,  my  lords.  I  know  it  would  be  only  a 
waste  of  public  time  if  I  entered  into  any  explanation  of  my  po- 
litical opinions— opinions  which  I  know  are  shared  in  by  the  vast 
majority  of  my  feUow  countiymen.  Standing  here,  as  I  do,  will 
bs  to  them  the  surest  proof  of  my  sincerity  and  honesty.  With 
reference  to  the  statement  of  Warner,  all  I  have  to  say  is,  and  I 
say  it  honestly  and  solemnly,  that  I  never  attended  a  meetmg  at 
Geary's,   that  I  never  exercised  with  a  rifle  there,  that  I  never 


81)8 


DECT,  A  RATIONS   TN   THE   DOCK. 


leamod  fho  uso  of  the  rifle,  nor  did  any  of  tlio  oUior  thinirf,  ho 
swore  to.  With  respect  to  uiy  opinion  on  liritish  rule  In  thiu  couu- 
try  "— 

Mr.  Jufltico  Koogh— "  Wo  can't  hear  tliat." 

The  PrlHoncT— "  All  I  have  to  say  is  tiiat  I  was  not  at  Geary's 
for  four  or  Ave  montlis  before  my  arrest,  so  that  VVarnc^'s  stato- 
mcnt  is  untrue.  If  having  served  my  country  honestly  and  sin- 
cerely bo  treason,  I  am  not  nMuiuwd  of  it.  I  am  now  prepared  to 
receive  any  punishment  British  law  can  Inllict  on  mo. 

Jerkmiah  O'Donovan  and  Thomas  Ditooan  wore 
<3liai-ged  with  swcarin.jr  in  8,)l(lior8  of  tlio  4t]i  Dm<r„(„i 
(luards.  Tried  on  2()Mi  Decend)or,  1865,  and  found 
guilty.  Donovan  was  sontcnced  to  five  years'  peual 
servitude,  and  Duggan  to  ten  years. 

Charles  Underwood  0'Connf<]ll  is  a  native  of  the 
County  Cork,  lie  lias  liad  the  benefit  of  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  beeame  a  nieniber  of  the  Organization  in 
its  early  days.  His  parents  were  disi)osse8sed  of  thoir 
farm,  and  the  whole  family  was  subsociuently  prose- 
cuted by  the  landlord  on  a  charge  of  conspiring  to  in- 
timidate him  by  threatening  letters.  Charles  Sxmo  to 
America  in  1862,  and  returning  to  Ireland,  remained 
about  six  months,  when  lie  again  came  to  Kew 
York.  ITe  organized  Company  K,  of  the  99th  Regi- 
ment, IS".  Y.  N.  a,  and  served  with  it  at  Elmira 
in  charge  of  the  Confederate  prisoners.  He  was  pas- 
sionately fond  of  music  and  poetry,  and  his  tent  was 
the  rendezvous  of  many  congenial  spirits.  The  strains 
of  "The  Battle  Eve  of  t-he  Brigade,"  "O'Donnel  Aboo" 
and  other    inspiriting    songs  and  ballads,  were  fre- 


FRNIAN    inoROEd    AND   MAUTVR8. 


noo 


qiiontly  licurd  thoroiii.  In  Roptoirjlwr,  1805,  Cnp- 
tiiiii  ()'(!(niru>ll  loft  lor  Iit'IuikI,  lu-iiriiinr  a  j.ackni^^o  of 
tlio  ooiitcfitH  of  wiii(;li  lie  WiiH  i«;n(»niiit,  i»iit  which 
Avei-e  Hulliciciit  to  nhow  his  ititimaoy  with  tho  Fcniiiii 
leuderK.  JIo  \vm  urroHtt-d  on  lii^  huidiiii.-.  Ho  was 
])rout;ht  to  trial  on  tho  2()th  DocuinlK-r,  1805,  and 
loiirul  ^niilty  tho  iioxt  day.  J]oin<;  asked  if  ho  had 
unythiri^r  to  say,  ho,  aftor  a  brief  i)au8o,  said  : 

**T  Imvc;  and  in  the  fow  remarks  I  have  to  make,  I  hope  I 
Bhiill  not  bo  >r„iiiy  „f  jiiiy  (liHivsixiet  to  tfiiw  honorable  eonrt.     It  is 
tlie  b(jaHt  of  the  proud  iJriton  that  in  tlic  eye  of  the  J'^iglisli  iaw 
every  man,  before  liis  crime  is  proved,  is  supposed  to  be  innocent, 
I  liuve  to  coinphiln  that  I  was  tried,  found  guilty,  and  puuislied 
bclore  ever  I  was  brought  into  this  court.     Wlieu  I  left  the  TTnited 
Hlatcs,   to  wliich   I  bave  sworn  allegiance,   upon  my  leirifimato 
business,  and  before  I  had  landed,  I  was  sei/f-d  by  p(;licem(!n  and 
dranjtrod  off  to  tlie  police  barracks.     There,  Sub-  Fnspector  Greaves. 
Burrounded  by  Ids  men,  wlio  danced  about  me  like  dogs  around  a 
■wild   beast,  stripped  me  naked.     I  swear  this  before  God.     He 
then  gave  orders  to  have  nin  thrust  into  a  cell  where  a  drunken 
Englisli  soldier  had  been  im{.risoned.     I  have  to  si)cak  of  the  oral 
testimony  broviglit  against  me— tlio  evidence   of  Sub-Inspector 
Greaves.     He  lias  sworn  as  to  tlie  sealed  parcel  found  in  my  pos- 
session and  in  my  trunk.     I  most  solenmly  declare  I  was  as  igno- 
rant  of  tlie  conleiits  of  that  i)ackage  as  I  am  of  when  time  sliall 
be  uo  longer.     These  military  documents  conned ed  with  my  regi- 
ment were  in  my  trunk,  and  the  s(;aled  parcel  was  not  in  the  breast 
pocket  of  my  coat,  but  in  my  trousers  pocket,  and  it  was  not 
taken  irom  me  by  Sul)-Inspect(jr  Greavcis.     He  came  towards  me 
on  the  deck  of  the  vessel,  accompanied  by  the  detective,  and  asked 
me  if  I  had  any  arms,  and  I  said  I  had  a  revolver,  and  thereupon 
iianded   it  to  him.      Some  oliscirvutions   passed,    during   which 
O'Mahony  put  his  hand  into  my  trousers  pocket,  pulled  out  the 
package  and  lianded  it  to  Greaves.     Now,  with  regard  to  the  tea- 


m 


'I   I 


DECLAEATI0N8  IN   THE  DOCK. 

limony  of  the  policeman  Sage,  I  say  there  is  not  a  particle  of  truth 
m  it— not  a  single  word.     I  know  this  countiy  well  enough   and 
profess  to  be  pr.tty  well  ac(iuainted  with  it.     I  know  the  constab- 
ulary  to  be  composed  exclusively  of  Irishmen,  and  it  would  be  idle 
for  me  to  ask  if  he  were  an  Irishman.     Such  a  conversation  as  he 
has  sworn  to  having  passed  between  us  never  occurred— so  help 
me  God.     The  letter  read  as  having  been  wiitten  by  me  from  St. 
Louis  was  not  mine,  inasmuch  as  I  was  never  in  St.  Louis  in  my 
life.     Neither  was  that  parcel  given  me  by  Col.  John  O'Mahony 
or  by  any  person  connected  with  his  ofHce.     It  was  given  to  me 
by  a  gentleman  m  Broadway,  New  York,  the  day  before  I  k-ft  to 
return  home,  with  a  request  to  hand  it  to  some  person  in  Dublin 
Now,  your  honorable  court,  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  parallel  m 
the  wide  world  for  the  barbarities  practiced  upon  political  prison- 
ers in  this  country." 

Mr.  Justice  Keigh— "  We  cannot  listen  to  that,  and  your  com- 
mon sense  will  tell  you  so." 

Prisoner— "I  have  to  complain  that  every  little  thing  I  had  in 
the  world  was  seized  by  the  police-my  private  and  ianiily  letters 
books,  and  everything  else-the  letters  from  my  poor  exiled  father 
and  sisters  tome;  and  these  they  have  still  in  their  possession 
They  do  not  contain  anything  I  have  reason  to  be  ashamed  of 
They  bitterly  bewail  their  exile,  but  do  not  murmur  agamst  God 
or  man.     I  have  more  than  that  to  complain  of  "— 


Mr.  Justice  'Keocrh  interposed. 


Prisoner-"!  have  set  out  by  stating  I  believed  that  I  was  tried 
found  guilty,  and  punished  before  I  was  brought  into  this  court' 
I  will  undertake  to  prove  I  have  to  complain  of  a  miserable  little 
scorpion  " — 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh— "We  cannot  hear  that." 

Prisoner— "I  allude,  my  lord,  to  her  Majesty's  Attorney-Gone- 
ral.  No,  I  beg  pardon;  it  is  to  the  Solicitor-General,  Mr  Sulli- 
van." 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh-"I  won't  hear  anything  upon  that  sub- 
ject." . 


( '. 


FENIAN   ItEEOES   AND  MAETYIig.  4„i 

„„!!."'T'r"  ^  °''"''''  ^™  '  "'"'  P™'"'  "">'  1"=  is  M  enemr  of  a 
^o,^_a„d  dear  .-ola.ive  of  n>me,  and  ftat  be  endeavored  to  ™ia 

p'u^T".^"'^'T  """'""  "'"  *'"=  °taervatio„s." 
I»h    °:y7oatTof'lV"°  '  r^-''-'^^^  aboveboanJ. 

P.Ltf '.?:f  ~;7"  "'"■""  """-^  ^™  *»  P^--d." 
x-iisonei—    I  am  not  done,  my  lord  " 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh  reminded  him  that  he  did  not  serve  his  case. 

At   this   stage   of   the  proceedings   the   prisoner's 
—  ^advanced  up  to  the  bar  and^.plore'd  hhnt: 

defence.  It  lias  been  put  forward  that  T  hnlrl  a  n  .''""'^^^^'  "^^ 
QOfi,  T)     •        .        ,  'ivvjiiu  uiat  1  nold  a  commission  in  thn 

09  1  Reg,ment,  urntor  Col.  John  O'Mahony ;  and  proud  as  I  ™  „f 
hodmg  a  eon,mi,.i„n  in  that  regin^cnt,  l' am  eqLly  prlud  of 
hoMiug  It  under  his  command."  i"^"/ proua  ot 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh-- We  cannot  hear  that  " 

Prisoner--  Well,  in  conclusion,  I  believe  'L 

Mr.  Butt,  Q.  C,  here  interposed. 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh,  in  passing  sentence,  said: 

"You  say  you  swore  allegiance  to  the  American  Rennhll.  k  . 
no  man  by  doing  so  can  relieve  himself  o^hi   lllf  •  '    "' 

The  judge  tlien  sentenced  him  to  ten  years'  peinl 
servitude,  upon  whiel.  Captain  O'Connell   sj^l 


11 

J  si 

iir 


402 


BECtAEATION'S  W  THE  DOCK, 


hope  there  wiE  be  an  exclaangQ  of  prisoners  before 
that  time," 

John  B.  S'.  Casey  waa  arraigned  for  treason-felony 
at  the  Cork  Commission,  29th  December,  1865.     Mr. 
Casey  was  a  yonng  man  originally  from  Mitchels- 
town,  who  went  to  Cork  and  became  a  clerk  to  Mr. 
Geary,   "whose  house,"   said   the   Solicitor-General, 
*'  was  the  rendezvous  of  the  principal  conspirators." 
lie  contributed  to  the  Irish  People  over  the  signature 
of  "  The  Galtee  Boy,"  and  several  of  his  communica- 
tions were  read  as  evidence  of  his  offence — love  of 
,  country.     Though  there  was  scarcely  any  evidence, 
save  that  of  the  perjurer,  "Warner,  who  even  had  the 
brazen-faced  effrontery  to  swear  that  "  the  purpose  for 
which  he  gave  information  against -Casey  and  others 
was  to  put  money  in  the  pocket  of  Mr.  Butt,  Q.  C," 
his   then    cross   examiner — the  prisoner  was    found 
guilty,  with  a  recommendation  to  mercy.    In  reply 
to  the  usual  question,  Mr.  Casey  said : 

"My  lord,  I  have  only  to  say  that  the  evidence  swom  by  that 
unfortunate  wretch,  Warner,  against  me,  from  beginning  to  end, 
is  a  tissue  of  most  foul  perjuries,  and  that  I  solemnly  profess,  be- 
fore God,  I  never  attended  any  of  those  drill  meetings  which  he 
swears  I  did.  H's  assertion  is  an  unfounded  untruth,  and  so  also 
is  his  statement  about  the  conversation  between  Geary  and  me.  I 
have  to  say  the  same  with  respect  to  the  swearing  of  the  police- 
man Macauley.  He  never  saw  me  writing — he  could  not — nor  did 
I  address  a  letter  to  him.  I  firmly  believe  that,  from  beginning  to 
end,  he  has  stated  what  is  untrue.  I  have  also  to  protest,  in  the 
face  of  the  world,  against  this  vile  system  of  jury  packing  " — 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald  would  not  allow  the  prisoner 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYE8. 


403 


5> 


to^slander  anything  appertaining  to  the  Court  of  Jug- 

be^L'd  ^:^;^r  ^^^  '^  -y  ^'^^  '  P--  ^S^^-  ^-Ing 
Sentence,  penal  servitude  for  five  jears. 

Michael  O'Eegan  was  tried  at  the  Corlc  Special 
Commission,  30th  December,  18G5,  on   a  charge  of 
I  enianism,  and  with  having  attempted,  on  the  2d  No- 
vember  to  swear  in  as  a  Fenian,  at  Castletownsend, 
one  Ilall.han,  a  petty  officer  on.  board  her  maiesty'a 
ship.  Hastings.     O'Regan,  who  was  about  tiiirty  years 
o±   age,  had  recently  returned  from  America      The 
Attorney-General  said  he  was  fully  armed  with  all  tlie 
implements  to  carry  on  the  .;ork  of  the  brother;  the 
impements"  found  on  O'Regan  being,  "a  Roman 
Catholic  prayer-book,  a  circuh^r  issued  by  the  Wiscon- 
sm  State  Convention  of  the  Fenian   13rotherhood    a 
book  on  musketry,  a  drill  book,  an  account  book,  with 
some  mysterious  items  in  it,  a  seditious  song  book  and 
an  apparatus  for  making  cartridges.'*     The  prisoner 
was  found  guilty,  and  in  reply  to  the  usual  ciuestion, 

"  I  will  only  say  a  few  words,  and  I  will  he  entirely  responsible 
myself  fc.r  them.  I  do  not  want  my  speech  or  renuL  to  InMo 
anyone  else.  With  regard  to  the  approver  or  informer,  I  till 
only  say  that  what  he  has  sworn  is  entirely  folse.  It  is  verv 
smgular  that  one  who  drank  in  a  room,  four  feet  square,  could  not 
see  hun  going  out  of  it-veiy  strange ;  so  that  you  should  not  be-  < 
heve  the  words  of  any  informer  whatever,  because  they  ai'e  not 
only  mlormers,  but  liars  and  ti-aitors,  and  aie  a  disgrace  to  the 


'Wi 


m 


;|i 


40t 


DECLARxVTIONS   TN   THE  DOCK. 


ii 


country  in  which  Ihey  live.  They  would  as  soon  act  as  liarfl  and 
informers  agjiinst  any  oiie  else.  With  regard  to  what  your  lord- 
sliip  said  about  my  going  to  America,  I  have  to  say  I  did  not  go 
tliere  at  tlie  time  stated  in  that  paper  of  citizenslup.  I  am  over 
eighteen  years  out  of  lliis  country,  and  came  back  to  it  over  ten 
montlis.  I  love  my  country— I  will  not  conceal  it— ever  since  I 
Was  forced  to  leave  it  from  ()pi)ression.  Your  laws  would  not 
allow  me  to  live  here,  and  I  had  to  go  to  America.  I  saw  a  few 
scraps  of  the  late  trials.  Tliey  were  remarks  made  by  tlie  Attor- 
.Jiey-General.  '* 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh— *<  We  cannot  allow  this.  You  must  con- 
fine yourself  to  the  question  ;  liavc;  you  anytliing  to  saj  why  sen- 
tence should  not  be  passed  on  you  ?" 

The  Prisoner—"  I  Avlsh  you  would  allow  me  to  say  a  few  words. 
Tlicre  is  more  truth  in  wliat  I  say  than  in  what  tli(>  informer  said." 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh— "  You  cannot  serve  yourself  by  tlm  course 
you  are  about  pursuing. " 

Tl  e  Piisoner— "I  will  only  say  I  love  liberty.  I  see  the  peo- 
ple of  this  country  are  oppressed  "— 

Mr.  Justice  Keogli— "  We  will  not  listen  to  any  observations  of 
that  kind. " 

The  Prisoner— "I  will  say  no  more  then." 

Their  lordsliips  tlien  retired,  and  after  the  lapse  of 
several  minutes,  returned  into  court.  Mr.  Justice 
Keogh  passed  sentence,  penal  servitude  for  seven 
years. 

Prisoner— "I  am  veiy  glad  you  got  done.  I  don't  expect  to  ba 
long  inside.'* 


Ill 


JoTiN  KiNNEALT,  wlio  was  tried  at  the  Cork  Com- 
mission, Avas  found  guilty  on  Tuesday,  2d  January, 
1806 ;  sentenced  to  ten  years'  penal  servitude.  6u 
being  convicted,  the  prisoner  said ; 


FENIAK  HEK0E8  AND  MARTTEg.        405 

nm\^l  'ff '  '!, ''  f  "'"''^  '"'""''"^  ^"'^  "^'^  t«  «^y  'Anything.     I 
00™^^^^^^^       T':  "^  ^-'-  ^"-^«"'P'  the  ju^  coi  find  no 
.   b    "ta  tv  r  r''"""'     ^^^  ^^'••^^^^  against  mc  has 

alwavr"      ^^  ,  '  ""'""'  ^^'"'"''^  P"^'^'^^^^  convictions  have  been 
always  obtauied  m  this  country.     As  to  the  intbrnier   Warner  I 

that  rieHoV  iT  '"""';""  "'"^  '^''  ^"^^'  ^  -"  P-^-»  or 
pel  ticX  or  oti.  ^°''^V^f  ^^«^-  i^  "-r  anything  else  I  have  done 
politically  or  otherwise.     (Murmm-s  of  applause)." 

JAME8  O'Connor,  bookkeeper  of  the  Irish  People 
was  brouWit  to  trial  on   flm  Sfi,    t  /     -^   ' 

■nil-        ^r  "^'^^  ^^^^  Jfinnary,- 18(H)    in 

Dublm.  He  wa.  cl,a,.gcd  with  co„sph.i,,/'to  do,  o  e 
«  Queen  and  to  move  foveigne,.  to  invade  L-elind. 
lie  Soie.toi-General  undertook  to  show  tJiat  l,e 
acted  otherwise  than  as  bookkeeper.  He  was  fonnd 
gudty,  and,  m  reply  to  the  clerk  of  tlie  Crown,  said  : 

Wlion  tin,  procoeding  commenced  he  had  no  inlenti™  of  «,I 
dre.,.,ns  any  observations  ,o  ,l,e  court  on  the  act  o     ^  ,?,  vht 
been  found  g„,lty,  which  appeared  to  him  veo^  prol,ahle  fr,™,  to 

^.;:;p:rrrc:^LTC4ror£= 

not  been  clear  y  proved   at  If-i^f  n^f  f^  1  •  =>      "»  *  ase  naa 

fi,..f  II      ..  •      *    ^  "'  ^^  ^^'^^^  not  to  his  own  sat  sfaction-  buf 
that  had  nothing  now  to  do  with  tlie  mmt,.,.      n^i  ' 

xxc  saw  rn.it  oetoro  he  came  forward  for  trial  in  +i,a 
letter  wh.eh  was  written  to  hi,n,  and  which  he  ul^. "  „t 
irongly  .0  induce  t]>e  Jury  to  find  him  guilty,  was  ,1^1  !^ 
ressed  to  him  by  Morrisey.  Now,  it  was  not  wy  e^^!  i™  .^^ 
t..a,,  for.he  prisoner  to  contnulict  most  of  the  evidcmce  e iv™ 
aganust  Inm.  He  was  no.  in  Ireland  at  the  time  that  "  „r  ™ 
reccved  m  the  L-Uh  Pc„„le  offlce,  and  he  never  saw  i  t  nil 
»v  «  tu  the  iniormatlon  made  out  against  him,     W  tl^  r  ^  M  Z 


40G 


DECLAEATIONS   IN   THE  DOCK. 


I»    "  I? 


1^ 


11 


,  ■  I 


;1 


the  letter  which  he  wrote  to  Daniel  Connell,  he  considered  that  he 
was  bound  to  reply  to  it.     That  Icttor  had  not  been  addressed  to 
him,  and  m  the  absence  of  O'Donovan  it  was  his  duty  to  reply  to 
any  lettera  addressed  to  him.     There  was  another  letter  on  which 
his  case  rested  to  wliich  he  desired  to  refer.     He  did  not  remem- 
ber seeing  the  letter  which  it  was  stated  was  written  by  Stephens 
to  him.     He  had  alluded  to  the  fact  that  it  was  very  difficult  to 
contradict  evidence  in  this  case,  or  any  other  case,  and  he  thought 
the  Crown  should  always  prove  clearly  the  charges  preferred 
against  the  person  placed  on  his  trial,  and  that  it  did  not  rest  on 
the  prisoner  to  disprove  statements  made  against  him.     His  lord- 
ship, in  his  charge  to  the  jury,  said  that  the  handwriting  had  not 
T)een  contradicted.     That  was  impossible  to  do,  because,  in  fact, 
every  person  wlio  could  disprove  his  handwriting  was  at  tliat  mo- 
ment in  prison.     His  lordship  also  stated  that  he  was  no  stranger 
in  Dublin,  airi  that  he  could  e;isily  have  got  persons  to  do  so,  if 
he  could  disprove  his  handwriting.     Now,  he  was,  he  might  say, 
a  stranger  in  Dublin,  for  altliough  he  had  been  born  in  tliis  city, 
he  had  been  out  of  it  nearly  all  his  life,  so  that  it  was  impossiblo 
for  him  to  get  any  person  to  give  evidence  to  contradict  that  state- 
ment as  to  his  handwriting.     In  reference  to  the  same  fact,  he 
would   apply  himself  to  the   evidence  of  Nagle,   who   managed 
always  to  swear  what  could  not,  by  any  possibility,  be  contradict- 
ed, and  it  was  quite  clear  that  he  had  studied  his  evidence  very 
hard.     Nagle  said  that  the  meeting  at  Phibslxu-ougli  was  a  Fenian 
meeting,  but  it  seemed  to  him  (the  prisoner)  that  it  was  not, 
because  nothing  about  Fenianism  was  spoken  at  it.     Every  man 
he  referred  to  was  in  jail,  so  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him 
to  get  any  person  to  prove  an  alibi.     He  wished  to  state  that  he 
considered  the  line  of  defence  pursued  by  Mr.  Butt  was  the  best 
he  could  adopt,  and,  on  the  part  of  the  Crown  and  that  of  his  own 
counsel,  he  thought  each  did  their  duty.     The  Solicitor-General 
asked  the  jury  what  were  they  there  for;  and  he  himself,  in  the 
same  breath,  answered  that  they  were  there  in  the  pursuit  of  truth. 
He  hoped  he  would  be  allowed  to  concur  in  the  statement  that  all 
these  trials  were  carried  on  in  the  pursuit  of  truth,  and  he  con- 


FENIAN   HEEOEfl   AND   MARTYRS.  407 

ceived  that  there  was  one  clear  truth  established  in  the  course  of 
these  trials,  and  that  was  that  Ireland  was  an  unhappy  countiy. 
but  he  cause  of  it  he  would  not  then  stop  to  Inquire  into.  He 
would  not  detain  their  lordships  by  making  any  further  observa- 
tion  for  when  the  trial  commenced  he  had  no  intention  of  addi-ess- 
mg  the  court. 

He  was  sentenced  to  penal  servitude  for  seven 
yeara. 


I 


CnRisTOPiiER  Manus  O'Keeffe  was  arrested  on  the 
18th  September,  1865.     On  the  arrest  of  Lnby  there 
were  found  in  his  possession  several  letters  purporting 
to  be  addressed  to  him  by  a  person  named  O'Keeife 
and  which  were  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  a 
member  of  the  Fenian  conspiracy.     Mr,  O'Keeffe  did 
not  belong  to  the  Fenian  organization,  but  wrote  occa- 
sional articles  for  the  Irish  Peojple.     Although  not  in 
the  Brotherhood,  he  was  a  man  of  national  sentiments 
and  had  been  Irish  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Pilot 
Mr.  O'Keeffe  was  brought  to  trial  on  the  11th  Janu- 
ary, 18G6,  and  found  guilty  the  next  day.     Alluding 
to  the  "  violent  and  eccentric  "  letters  brought  against 
him,  the  Nation  said :  «  Dublin  litterateurs  who  know 
the  man  well  are  quite  convinced  that,  beyond  the 
writing  of  those  curious  letters,  he  had  no  connection 
with  Femanism.     He  put  his  own  case  remarkably 
well  m  his  address  to  court  previous  to  the  passino.  of 
sentence.     He  had  lived  by  his  pen-he  had  to  write 
tor  his  bread— and  this  circumstance  might  naturally 
be  supposed  to  influence,  to  some  extent,  the  tone  of 
his  contributions  to  any  particular  journal.     It  should 


408 


DECLAKAllCNS   IN   THE  DOCK. 


[  Ij' 


WU 


Bi 


not,  however,  be  supposed  from  those  remarks  of  his 
that  he  was  ready  to  write  any  class  of  opinions  on 
bemg  paid  for  so  doing.     His  feelings  were  with  his 
country,  he  detested  the  misrule  to  which  she  is  sub- 
jected, he  hated  the  foreigners  who  are  masters  in  this 
land,  and  he  was  incapable  of  writing  or  speakino-  in 
R  contrary  sense.     He  was  a  good  Gaelic  scholar,  and 
hxs  English  style  was  terse  and  vigorous.     There  was, 
indeed,  a  vein  of  genius  in  the  man,  and  it  cropped 
out  m  his  address  to  the  court.     He  was  sentenced 
to  ten  years  of  penal  servitude." 

Cornelius  O'Mahony  was  brought  to  trial  on  the 
12th  January  in  Dublin.  It  was  continued  the  next 
day.  The  jury  disagreed  and  was  discharged  at  mid- 
night ;  whereupon  the  Crown  prosecutors  gave  notice 
that  they  would  bring  the  prisoner  to  a  second  trial 
on  Monday  morning.  Mr.  Butt,  astonished,  said,  «  Do 
you  mean  the  prisoner  O'Mahony  ?" 

Mr.  Barry-"  Yes.  We  are  determined  to  put  him 
01  trial  again  on  Monday  mornino-." 
Mr.  Butt—"  That  is  very  hard." 
Accordingly,  on  Monday,  the  15th,  Mr.  O'Mahony 
was  again  put  on  his  trial.  He  was  found  guilty,  and 
in  reply  to  the  formal  question,  said  he  had  merely  to 
say,  he  was  convicted  on  insufficient  evidence. 

Mr.  Sidney,  Q.  C,  ask^d  their  lordships  to  respite 
sentence  until  the  decision  of  the  question  as  to  the 
discharge  of  the  jury  on  Saturday  night  last.     That 
question  was  pending  in  the  case  of  Charlotte  Winser 
in  England.  ' 


11 


and 


tENTAN   HEROES   AND   MARTYRS.  409 

]\rr.  Justice  K-eocrTi  said  tliej  could  not  accerle  to  tho 
Jipplieation,  and  then  passed  Bcntence  of  five  years' 
l^enal  servitude. 

CoRKEurs  DwYER  Keane,  wlio  liad  boon  liberated 
on  bail,  was  brought  up  a  second  time,  tried  17th  Jan- 
iiary  1866,  and  found  guilty  of  having  engaged  in 
the  Feniau  conspiracy.  Mr,  Keane  was  a  native  of 
fekibbereen,  and  it  was  charged  that  he  was  intimately 
ucquamted  with  O'Donovan  (Rossa),  that  he  told  Ste- 
phens  he  had  himself  sworn  in  four  hundred  Fenians 
m  the  neighborhood  of  Clonakilty,  and  attempted  to 
swear  in  two  others.  Nagle,  the  informer,  certified  to 
Jveane  s  having  attended  Fenian  meetings  at  Phibs- 
Txjrough  road,  Buckingham  street,  and  Great  Bruns- 
wick  street.  Previous  to  the  sentence  Mr.  Keane 
eaid: 

J!^  f '^.'^  u  'Tf  "^  ^"^  ^"'^  "^s^*'  ^"^^"^  "^y^'^^  ^"f^-"^^^'^  by 

counsel  at  all,  tor  I  did  not  believe  there  was  justice  to  be  had  for  ' 
any  prisoner  charged  as  I  was  in  this  country.     I  was  fully  con- 
Vuicod  of  that  alter  the  Cork  trials;  for  not  alone  are  the  prisoner's 
own  acts  brought  against  him,  but  the  acts  of  others,  of  which  he 
vas  not  even  cognizant.     Moreover,  the  judges,  instead  of  being,    • 
U^  they  ought  to  be,  impartial  between  the  Crown  and  the  pri- 
soner, are  more  the  advocates  for  the  Crown  than  impartial  judges 
c.    the  ca^.     A  letter  has  been  put  in  evidence  against  me  from 
jyir  J.  O  Donovan  (Rossa).     He  was  a  fellow-townsman  of  mine 
lin<l  I  am  proud  of  his  acquaintance.     The  name  of  Stephens  hai 
IxHu  mentioned.     I  beg  to  say  I  have  always  boasted,  and  will 
cmt.ime  to  boast  to  the  hust  hour  of  my  lite,  of  being  honored 
uu  1.  Mr.  btepheii  s  acquaintance  ami  tViendship.     1  do  not  believe 
I  have  been  guilty  of  anything  I  slu.uld  be  asi.nm.d  of     As  an 
Irishman,  I  was  bound  to  join  in  a  combination  which  was  banded 


Tf    i 


410 


l^EOtAKATIONfl   m   TffE   rxXJK. 


1 


I'-  « 


f       ^ 


fogclltor  for  tho  good  of  Irolund— not  for  nssasHinafion  or  pliindof, 
as  1ms  luu'ii  fjilsely  usHcrtcd.  TIk!  Hliilnnciit  of  llu-  witiK-.s  us  t<» 
HiKK.liiijr  was  oniin-ly  lUIso.  I  never  siiid  I  iiilcndcd  to  slioot  iiny- 
body,  atid  it  avu  •  liiskni'd  on  nie  by  Ihi!  Solicilor-UciuTul  at  tluj 
histi-iitioM  of  Mr.  Itarry.  Tlie  Soli.  iior-tJcncnd  would  not  huv« 
BUiWd  it  but  that  Mr.  Hariy  jiroiiiptcd  him  to  do  so," 

The  8olicilor-0en(M-al— " That  is  not  true." 

Prisoner—" I  saw  Mr.  Barry  talking'  privately,  iniildn,?  flomo 
RMi^^restion  to  yoti,  and  you  tlu  i:  ;iliiided  to  that  matter,  which,  as 
1  have  said,  was  entirely  and  purely  lalse.  I»Jow,  my  lord,  I  hava 
only  one  reiiuest,  to  nmkt!,  and  that  is,  that  you  will  not  give  Jno 
any  adviec  of  lecture,  as  you  have  done  to  the  other  prisoners.  I 
ask  you  simiiiy  to  pass  senteneo  on  me,  and  give  me  nothing  hi 
the  shape  of  adviee  or  leelure,  tor  I  assure  you  it  would  bo  loal: 
upon  me." 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald  fully  agreed  with  Ww.  v(!rdi(!t,  and  thought 
the  prisoner  not  only  hardened,  but  beyond  the'  elleet  of  merey, 
for  he  was  no  socmtsr  liberated  on  bail  in  Cork,  than  he  lorlhwitlt 
went  to  Dublin  and  attended  treiisonnble  meetings  there.  '•  You 
appear,"  said  he,  "to  he  hardened  and  delermiued  to  (Persevere  ia 
this  criminal  eours<>. " 

Prisoner — "  >b)st  decidedly." 

Mr.  Justice  Fitzgerald— "  It  is  useless  to  address  any  advice  to 
you.  I  shall,  therefore,  at  ouee  pronounce  the  sentence  of  the 
Court,  which  is,  that  you  he  kept  in  i)enal  servitude  h)r  teuyefwa." 

MAiiTiN  Manly  Carey  was  brought  to  trial  on  tlio 
18th  Jaimaiy,  18(){{,  and  was  found  o-tiilty  with  a 
Btrong  recoiiiinendation  to  mercy.  In  rosponso  to  tha 
usual  question,  he  entered  on  ox])lanati()ns  as  to 
"vvhetlier  a  man  was  a  Catholic;  or  a  Protestant,  when 
Mr.  Ihitt  suggested  he  had   better  not  say  any  more. 

The  Prisoner— "  I  must  justify  myself  about  my  religion.  Il 
lias  been  introduced  into  these  trials  upon  some  occasions.  Kver 
since  the  first  trial,  the  counsel  for  the  prosecution  "— 


•( 


KENIAN   irKIloKS   AND  MARTYKS. 


4tl 


Mr.  .TuHtlro  KfiOKli-"!  do  not  sec  what  you  liavo  to  do  M-ith 
otIuT  trialH." 

Tho  Prisonor-"  Do  not  lliiiik  I  v.nU'vUim  any  disn.sp.rt  t..  tl.o 
Court.  Certainly  I  c(»nl(l  Imvu  plciuhul  nuilty  if  1  wislHMl,  u„l  g„t 
oil  Willi  two  yciira'  iniprisonnu-nt ;  hut  I  lik(5  my  friicdoai,  und 
rt'iilly  (lin  inducement  flnit  has  brnn  lJ^ou^dlt  to  buur  "— 

Mr.  JuMtic(!  KiM)-ii  — "I  cumiot  allow  that." 

Tho  Atlorney-Gcneral-."!  f(.„l  bouud  to  say  that  thoro  is  not 
•  partls.o  of  foundation  for  that." 

Tlio  PrisomT— "It  is  not  about  any  one  holonirln^to  the  Grown 
I  HI)  ak.  It  is  coMuoctcd  with  tho  pn^ss.  In  tho  IVccmrm'n 
Journal  Wxi^  priHoncrsaro  d.i.scrihrd  as  honorable  men,  whieh  they 
ftro,  Ihou-h  poor,  and  it  d.^scril.es  theju  as  men  bailurlng  will,  tho 
Crown  for  their  own  purposes." 

Mr.  Justico  Koo,-U_««I  will  not  hear  observations  no  way  con- 
Heeled  Willi  th('  question." 

Tiio  Trisr.ner  -"  All  I  can  say  is  if  I  oullivn  tho  aonteneo  of  tho 
Court  I  will  act  my  part  as  a  ux-.m,  ind.'p.ndeut  of  the  anathemas 
or  denunciations  of  any  bishop  or  priest." 

Ho  was  sentenced  to  five  years'  penal  scrvitudo. 

DANriii.  O'CoxNKLL,  a  native  of  Toomavara,  County 
Tipperary,  was  tiled  at  the  Special  Connnission,  Dub- 
lin, JantKiry  L':M,  18<;(5. 

•O'he  principul  ovidoneo  offered  a^irainst  liiin  wn  •  lifs 
liaviii;^-  written,  under  the  -igiiatui'-e  of  "A  Splniual 
Eidightener,"  a  letter  to  the  Irish  Pco2>Io,  m  which 
liG  said  that  he  believed  it  to  bo  necessary  that  Irish- 
men should  bind  themselves  to  tight  for  tlie  independ- 
cneo  of  their  country.  Ilo  had  also  written  to 
O'Donovan  (Rosa),  inquiring  how  he  could  procure 
Bonio  works  on  military  drill,  and  tho  best  tnodium 
through  which  to  obtain  an  Enlield  ritle  and  a  Cult's 


412 


DECLARATIONS   IN   THE   DoCTC. 


[ 


revolver.  When  arrested  a  drill-lx.ok  was  found  on 
Ill's  ]H!rson  ;  and  a  pass-book,  coiitaiiiiiij,^  tlio  names  of  a 
number  of  men,  with  (•i[)]iers  appended  to  encli  name, 
was  fouud  in  his  desk.  Jle  was  found  ^i;Miiily  and 
Bentenced  to  two  years' imprisonment  witli  hard  Libur. 

William  Fkancis  TIoantree  was  broni-'ht  to  trial, 
in  Dublin,  for  treason-fidony  on  tlie  2;'»d  January, 
1806,  and  was  found  guilty  on  the  n(;.\t  day.  On 
being  asked  liad  ho  anything  to  say  wliy  scnteueo 
sliould  not  be  })asscd,  he  replied: 

**  I  did  not  tliink  it  possii)Io  tliat  any  jniy  ponld  brinir  in  n^lnst 
nie  a  verdict  of  guilty  ;  guilty  of  coiispinii<r,  when  it  must  have 
been  dear  lo  every  unprejudiced  m<iii  that  it  was  the  Crown  con- 
spired.    Afha-  on  aI)sonco  of  seven  years,  I  returned  home  from 
America.     I  was  set  upon  by  ono  of  the  Crown  onieials,  and  I 
was  publicly  denounced  by  ono  of  its  preachers  as  an  infidel.     I 
wish  it  to  be  known,  and  generally  known,  tliat  no  matter  who  or 
what  bo  is,  no  ono   can  liope  to  live  in  Ireland  except  ho  be  a 
Scholield  or  a  Naglo.     I  was  set  upon,  as  I  luivc  said ;  every  word 
of  mine  was  misinterpreted  and  distorted  in  the  hope  of  finding 
Bomo  excuse  for  my  arrest.     Finding  none,  Naglo  was  set  upon 
me,  and  I  was  arrested  upon  liis  information.     I  am  now,  after 
four  or  live  months'  close  imprisonment,  asked,  after  a  tew  lit  do 
preliminaries,  wluit   I   have   to  say  why  sentence  should   not  bo 
passed  upon  mo.     Would  any  word  of  mine  avail  me  now  ?     I 
am  your  prisoner,  powerless,  for  the  present,  to  do  anything  more 
than  appeal,  as  an  American  citizen,  against  your  scntence,"not  to 
any  pro-English-American  Consul,  but  to  the  great  American  peo- 
ple.    I  have,  as  an  Irishman,  done  my  duty  to  my  conntr\',  but 
iny  only  regret  is  that  I  liave  not  it  in  my  power  to  do  a  great 
deal  more.     There  is  one  tiling  more  I  would  like  to  dwell  upon 
—namely,  the  insane  docunicnt  referred  to  by  Judge  Keogh.     It 
was  Nagle  handed  me  tliat  document  and  said  to  me,  "  what  do 


FENIAN   IIEUOES  AND  MARTYHS.  41.^ 

t  -  ..„n  any  of  U.o  convicts  in  Mo„n.joy  ?     As  an  Ins,.- 

ti.cn.  u.  their  hoj':t;:.:;n.ui:::;> "'"  "^^  ^^''^  ""^'  ^"■'■"^^^'^■" 

Patutck  nKYncijNE  waB  next  tried,  on  24fl.  Jnun- 
U  eV   .    '         .     ''"•     ^^'"'  ^-'i-tot-(i„u..,,i  stuh.,,1 

evKlencc  .vh.cli  ho  would  produoo  of  n.-.n.  found  in 
the  prisoner  SBlio,,,  and  also  a  letter  to  Mujor-CJenoral 
llioiuas  1.  Meagher,  which  w.s  very  patriotic  in 
sentiuiont  and  concluded  with  this  toast : 

T,nh7?  ♦ho  memory  of  General  Miclmel  Corcoran,  one  of  tl.e 
Boblest  and  best  of  n,en,  whether  considere.I  as  an  I.'ishn.an  or  a 
an  Amencan  ;'  and  n,ay  we  all  bear  a  part  in  fnltilling,  under  tie 
dann  less  Meagher,  the  tuo  dearest  hopes  of  our  h..:  -the  r  ! 
toratum  of  the  American  Union  and  th.  liberation  of  Ire  a  d-T 
am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant,  ^ 

♦'PATRICK  JOHN  IIEYBURNE, 

"Emmet  Guard,  Fenian  Brotherhood." 

Mr  ircyburno  was  found  guilty,  and  Judo-e  Koooh 
urged  him  to  be  silent,  or  if  ho  should  speak,  "not 'to 
make  an  exhibition  of  himself." 

The  Prisoner— "I  will  not,  my  lord." 

Mr.  Justice  Keo^d.-"I  give  you  that  advice  with  veiy  anxinus 
mo  ives,  and  perhai^s  it  would  be  better  to  leave  the  case  to  the 
end  Ml  tiK!  hinuls  of  your  counsel." 


w 


* 


ii:^i 


f 


414 


DECLAEATIONS   IN  THE  DOCK. 


The  Prisoner— "  I  must  say  a  few  words,  my  lord." 

Mr.  Justice  Keogli— .<'TJien  you  mudt  confine  yourself  directly 

to  say  la  matter  of  law  wljy  sentence  should  not  be  passed  upon 

you."  '     . 

The  Prisoner— "I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  only;  I  cannot  but 
return  thanks  to  the  able  counsel,  because  I  believe  tliere  are  no 
Jionester  men  or  abler  counsel  at  the  Irish  bar  who  could  say  any- 
thing in  my  favor.     They  have  argued  ably  in  my  defence,  and  I 
can  say  nothing  about  them.     1  have  had  a  very  fair  trial.     I  had 
honest  mer:  on  my  jury,  1  believe' that,  for  I  know  men  on  the 
jury  myself,  and  I  could  lay  my  life  in  their  hands.     I  had  not 
intended  to  say  anything  at  all  in  my  behalf  until  yesterday.     I 
never  believed  I  would  have  been  found  guilty.     I  never  believed 
I  would  until  the  ruled  paper  was  brouglit  against  me.     If  I  wa3 
standing  before  God  I  Avould  say  that  .ruled  form  was  never  in  my 
possession.  ■   If  I  ^vas  on  the  scaflbld,  with  the  rope  round  my 
neck,  I  would  say  that  ruled  form  was  never  in  my  possession.     I 
had  nothing  to  do  with  it.     There  was  nothing  in  the  evidence  to 
find  me  guilty  until  that  ruled  form  was  produced.     When  that 
ruled  form  was  brought  in  it  found  me  guillv,  and  no  other  way. 
Indeed,  by  law  of  England,  I  know  that  the  crime  entails  upoa 
me  a  severe  penalty.     The  history  of  Ireland  "— 

Mr.  Justice  Keogh— •'  I  will  not  hear  a  word  about  the  history 
of  Ireland.  I  proceed  to  announce  to  you  the  sentence  of  thg 
Court,  because  my  delaying  any  longer  would  only  allow  you  to 
place  yourself  in  a  very  flilse  position." 

The  Prisoner— "I  wish  you  to  pass  penal  sei-vitudo  upon  me. 
Do  not  give  me  two  years  imprisonn^ent,  for  I  would  sulFer  mora 
if  I  got  two  years  in  that  prison  than  it  I  got  penal  servitude." 

Mr.  Justice  Kcogli  tlien  passed  Bentciice— that  lio 
he  imprisoned  and  kept  to  hard  labor  for  two  years 
from  the  date  of  liis  conimittal. 

The  Prisoner-  "I  will  have  the  same  principles,  mv  lord, 
afterwards." 


irEI»;iAN    HEROES   AND   MARTYRS. 


415 


James  Flood  was  tried  in  Dublin  on  *  charge  of 
treason-felony,  on  Satnrdaj,  2Ttli  Jannaiy,  1866.''  IIo 
was  arrested  while  casting  bullets,  and  "treasonable 
docnnients^'  were  found  in  his  possession.  He  was 
fonnd  guilty,  and  in  reply  to  the  clerk's  question, 
said  :  ' 

*'My  lord,  I  came  from  England  only  a  few  days  before  my  ar- 
re'^t,  and  the  pamphlets  were  handed  to  me  in  the  street.  I  called 
to  tins  place  where  I  was  arrested  to  see  young  O'Niell  as  I 
knew  him  before  I  went  to  England.  I  don't  know  anythino-- 
about  the  Fenian  Brotherhood.  Of  course,  however,  according 
to  Jiritish  law,  I  must  be  found  guilty. 

lie  was  sentenced  to  five  years'  penal  servitude. 

^  TTuGii  Francis  Brot'hy,  who.  was  captnred  in 
Stephen's  house,  was  brought  to  trial  in  Dublin  on  the 
20th  January,  1866.  He  was  accused  with  being  one 
of  the  most  trusted  workers  in  the  conspiracv,  and  a 
number  of  letters  were  brought  against  him,"  as  well 
as  his  intimacy  with  the  leaders,  and  of  his  being 
present  at  Mulliiigar  when  an  attack  was  made  on  a  de'^ 
toctive  (Sm..lleu).  Mi-.  Butt  made  a  very  eloquent 
addre^^-s  in  his  defense,  and  Judge  Keogh  advised  the 
jury  ("hat  they  should  not  allow  the  brilliant  effort  to 
awake  their  compassion,  or  influence  their  verdict. 
Mr.  Brophy  was  found  guilty ;  and  in  reply  to  the 
usual  question,  said : 


"I  only  wish  to  make  a  few  remarks  in  reference  to  something 
that  i.asscd  during  the  trial.  The  detective  SmoUen  made  a  statet 
luent-a  very  serious  one  if  it  were  true— against  my  character 
for  uumliucss.    To  tJiosc  who  know  me,  there  would  not  be  any 


ii 

i  m 


SSSSSSSsasMaax 


<      J 


J 


416 


DECLARATIONS   IN   THE  DOCK. 


necessity  to  toply  to  that ;  but  as  there  are  a  great  many  who  do 
not  know  me,  I  wish  to  tell  how  it  occurred,      I  met  JMr.  Roan- 
tree  on  the  race-course  at  Mullingar,  and  I  may  have  pointed  out 
to  him,  or  he  may  have  pointed  out  Smollen  to  me.     In  tlic  evening, 
as  we  were  coming  towards  the  train,  there  were  two  men  met 
me— one  a  very  young  friend  of  mine,  and  another  man.     Before 
I  had  time  to  know  who  they  were,  one  of  them  struck  Smollen, 
who  was  then  with  his  back  to  the  wall,  and  they  in  front  of  him, 
though  he  stated  he  was  struck  from  behind.     I  was  beside  the 
platform  at  the  time,  and  as  he  was  against  the  wall  they  could 
not  have  got  behind  him.     I  did  not  interfere  in  the  vow  at  all. 
Smollen  then  came  forward,  struck  two  or  three  men  with  a  large 
stick  he  held  in  his  hand,  when  the  young  lad,  my  friend,  ran 
over  and  struck  him  with  a  small  stick.     I  laughed  at  the  idea  of 
his  striking  with  a  small  bit  of  a  stick  a  man  who  drew  a  large 
stick  with  a  knob  on  it.     When  I  saw  that,  I  pushed  the  crowd 
out   of  the  way,  seized  Smollen,  and  tried  to  take  the  stick  from 
him.     In  the  tussle   we  both  came  to  the  ground,  and  two  or 
three  of  his  friends  then  took  him  away.     That  was  the  end  of  it. 
As  to  Carty,  I  never  heard  the  words  which  Smollen  swore  to  here. 
I  did  not  leave  the  platform  at  all.     Dawson  says  he  saw  me  a 
couple  of  times  a  week  going  to  the  Irish  People  office ;  that,  too, 
is   not  correct.     I   certainly  went  very  frequently  there,   but  ho 
swore  that  for  four  months  before  the  seizure  of  the  paper  he  had 
not  seen  m(;  there,  while,  when  before  Mr.  Stronge,  he  swore  he  saw 
me  there  about  two  montlis  before.     That  was  a  great  contradic- 
tion.    I  lived  in  Constitution-hill ;  was  building  at  Frankfort  ave- 
nue, and  I  had  therefore  to  pass  through  Parliament  street,  and  in 
that  way  the  mistake  must  have  occurred.     Dawson  said  he  had 
not  taken  notes  of  the  times  he  saw  me  passing,   so  that  he  was 
only  guessing  when  he  said  he  saw  me  going  into  the  office  a 
couple  of  times  a  week.     Then,  again,  as  to  those  books,  with  tho 
j'cvolvers,  they  were  found  on  the  chimney  piece  in  the  room,  and 
not  in  a  drawer;   so  that  the  police  made  a  mistake  in  that  also. 
As  to  the  getting  up  of  the  paper,  of  course  I  had  to  do  with  that, 
and  I  was  chairman  of  the  committee  meeting ;  but  I  do  not  see 
What  that  has  to  do  with  levying  war  against  the  Queen.     Wheo 


FENIAN   HEKOHS   AND  MAKTrRS. 


417 


large 


I  assisted  in  getting  up  the  paper,  I  did  not  see  that  it  had  any- 
tiling  to  do  with  the  levying  of  war  against  lier.     I  always  as- 
sisted  m  everytliing  got  up  for  a  national  purpose.      As  to  that 
letter  where  the  0th  of  June  is  mentioned,   in  charging  the  jury, 
you  said  it  referred  to  my  going  to  Mullingar  on  the  Swiday  fol- 
lowmg.     I  was  for  a  fortnight  before  that  in  Mullingar  Ashing,  so 
that  It  could  not  be  me  that  was  mentioned  in  it,  and  if  so  th-re 
could  be  no  agreement  about  my  going  there.     As  to  O'Leary   hi 
was  a  workman  of  mine,  but  he  had  a  different  name  when  lie 
was  with  me.     When  he  was  arrested,  Murphy  was  the  name  he 
went  by.     As  a  worlcman,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  look  after  his 
defence,     I  spoke  even  to  Mr.  Curran  about  getting  bail  for  him 
and  he  told  me  it  was  not  the  slightest  use.     I  m-.tioned  that  to 
my  counsel,  and  I  thought  evidence  might  be  given  of  it.     I  had 
not  the  least  doubt  of  what  the  verdict  would  be  when  I  heard 
your  charge  to  the  jury;  there  could  not  be  a  particle  of  doubt 
What  it  would  be  after  your  charge.     In  fact  you  never  advanced 
a  single  argument  in  my  favor,  and  li'om  what  has  transpired  in 
these  trials,  from  the  first  of  them  down  to  the  present  time,  I 
must  confess,  ns  far  as  the  people  are  concerned,  I  feel  proud 'of 
them." 

Mr.  jTistice  Keogh— "  We  cannot  hear  more  of  this." 
Their  lordslnt)s  then  retired  to   confer  together,  and  on  the  re- 
turn of  Mr.    Bropiiy  corrected  some  misstatements  ;  and  Judge 
Kcogh  took  tlie  occasion  to  remark;   "You  say  you  are  proud  of 
the  men  wlio  were  brouglit  to  trial  here.      Wiiat  is  that  but  re- 


joicni!^ 


Prisoner— <'I  meant  the  people,  my  lord-the  people  outside." 

lie  was  tlieii  seiitencod  to  ten  years'  penal  servi- 
tude. 


11 


Patrick  Dorait  was  tried,  witli  Thomas  Francis 
Unrlve,  for  participation  in  tiio  iii-iirreetioiiary  move- 
monts  in  the  Connty  Dublin  in  Marclu  He  was  found 
guilty,  and  in  reply  to  the  (piestiou  of  the  Lord  Chief 


If 


if 


'I  I    I 


418 


DECLARATIONS   IN   THE   IK)CK. 


Justice,  « I,as  tl.e  tl.e  prisoner,  Doraai,  anything  to 
say? — replied:  '       ^        s  >■" 

"  5r,v  lords,   I  Imvc  not  got  miiH,  to  say.     Of  course  T  „o„l,l 
no.  fo„„w  the  same  strain  of  „,o„„.„c„  uL  r^ycZ^'llZ 

mand«    1,4         °"      '  '■"■""■■"'■"™.  ™"  «»ore  tliat  I  com- 

mand«l    he  riUcmoD,  or  m  ollu-r  words,  acted  as  aiMccarar,  to 

he  eonsp.rators  who  were  muhn-  Len„ln„.-whoe™.Lc.„ni„.        I 

ha  .a<  k  a  G  encullen  in  the  name  of  the  Iri,,h  RepnWic.     [Here  the 
pmonor  looked  around  eourl .  ]    There  are  ,ne„.  who  ar  pre!er,t 

Tn';:';  If  r  """""-"■ """""  °'  """^  '•"•  «■">  --  -'  «*i 

on  th,,t  table  o  prove  my  mn,.cence,     I  never  spoke  to  him,  ff«,d 
or  had,  th.a,  night-neversaid  one  word  to  him,  or  ,o  any  of  th™ 

accdent.     He  is  a  man  I  never  saw  or  knew  before.     But  I  for- 
give them,  a,,  I  hope  God  will  forgive  me.     I  Lave  ,o  say  no  i  „™ 
I  retnrn  my  heartfelt  thanks  to  my  eloquent  counsel,  who  so  abT; 

He  received  the  same  sentence  as  Colonel  Burke. 

MARTrs  A.  O'Bkennan  was  arrested  on  the  morn- 
ing  of  rhursday,  12th  October,  18C.5,  at  Tuam.  and 
mimeuiately   conveyed   by   cottstabulary  to   Dublin 
On  the  next  day  he  was  brought  before  Mr.  Stron..e' 

tie    0th  sT  T"'  '''"■'•    ^'— '--g^dthat-on 
the  30th  September  previous,  in  a  newspaper,  entitled 
fte  Conna.,At  J^atnot  and  General  '^rfJw   of 
winch  O'Brennan  was  sole  conductor  and  publisher 
there  was,  among  other  sedidous  articles,  one  in  which 


FENIAN   HEK0E8   AND  MAETYE8. 


419 


it  was  said  "  let  the  American  Fenians  return,"  and 
that  such  was  t-oasonal)le  and  intended  to  stir  up 
foreigners  to  invade  Ireland  and  "  separate  it  from  the 
United  Kingdom."  The  Crown  prosecutor  read  from 
an  article  headed  "Alleged  Fenianism  in  the  Army," 
in  which  Mr.  O'Brennan,  commenting  on  the  tele- 
gram announcing  the  arrest  of  a  Sergeant-major  and 
a  soldier  in  Cork  for  Fenianism,  said : 

*'lt  is  rumored  that  Fenianism  Uas  extended  itself  widely 
amongst  the  soldiers  of  the  line,  the  Constabulary,  and  Militia— 
that  they  understand  the  nature  of  their  oath  of  allegiance  to  de- 
fend, but  not  an  oath  to  consent  to  the  permanent  oppression  of 
their  plundered  nation— t^vat  their  oath  binds  them  to  a  just  mon- 
arch and.  a  just  government ;  l^at  tlial  if  the  latter  violate  alle- 
giance to  the  people— that  the  military  and  people  are  no  longv^r 
imder  allegiance. — Ed.  C.  P." 


The  Crown  counsel  thought  a  more  mischievous 
piece  of  treason  could  scarcely  bo  circulated,  as  it 
intending  to  convey  to  the  minds  of  the  people  that 
Fenianism  had  widely  extended  amongst  the  soldiers 
and  militia. 

The  prisoner's  counsel  requested  the  magistrate  to 
accept  bail,  which  was  declined. 

m,  O'Brennan— *'  It  is  my  duty  to  assist  the  learned  counsel  in 
this  matter,  that  it  may  appear  that  an  aggression  is  made  upon 
my  liberty  by  the  Crown.  Here  is  an  article,  no  matte-  who 
Tvrote  it,  and  the  charge  is  laid  at  my  door  by  the  Crown  r 
•*We  riliould  not,  if  free  to-morrow,  aggress  the  rights  and  liber- 
^  ea  of  any  neighboring  nation,  and  we  feel  we  have  a  right  to 
thiS  old  land  '-^(so  did  the  Williamites  in  1688)—*  and  to  lejslate 


420 


DECLARATIONS  IN  THE  JDOCK. 


r' 


for  and  to  rule  it.'  Not  seeking  to  subvert  the  power  of  the 
Queen  or  of  the  English  government,  but  saying  tlat  which  the 
Conservatives  are  quietly  allowed  to  do-to  subvert  Whi!  nc'.dec,! 
and  to  establish  a  rightful  rule  in  Ireland "  ^    ^ 

Mr.  Curran-I  think  it  would  be  a  great  deal  better  now,  Mr. 

M  "^?S'  '^  ^'""  ^""^^  J"^*  «^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  «-y  no  more. 

wh!^?  T  fi    ,T'"7"  ^  '"^  '"'^^"*  ^"  ^""'  ^"' '  ^"'  I  ^"«*  protest. 
wh,.m  I  find  the  Crown  aeting  with  so  much  virulence  as  to  takl 

me  from  my  lar^^e  family  of  nine  or  ten,  and  stick  me  up  into  no 

bet  er  thr.n  a  water  closet  last  night,    and  keep  me  from  three 

o  clock  yesterday  morning,  to  half-past  nine  o'clock  this  mornin.^ 

without  any  refreshment.     It  would  well  become  the  Crown  To 

say-how  IS  this  m.n  treated ;  or  why  should  such  an  aggression 

upon       e  "7-r  "'■'*/'  ^'^    '''^'''    '^    ^-    ^--    -^'^le 
upon      .6      If  it  occurred  elsewhere  the  Attorney  General  or 

Crown  Solicitor  would  be  the  first  to  denounce  it  as  barbarous  and 

savage,  a,  d  a  portion  of  the  tyranny  that  has  been  carried  out  in 

othex  countri..  .  but  here  when  it  is  exercised  upon  a  subject  of 

her  Majesty,  there  is  not  one  word  at  all  against  it." 

The  magistrate  (committed  the  prisoner  for  treason 
felony  and  thought  it  did  not  become  liim  to  answer 
the  statements  made  by  the  latter,  who  was  then  re- 
moved  to  Eiclnnond  Bridewell. 

Mr.  O'Brennan  was  tried  at  the  Commission  and  lib 
erated  November,  18(55,  on  his  own  recoj^nizance  but 
towards  the  close  of  Marcli,  1S6G,  after  the  suspension 
of  the  Habms  Corpus  he  was  a-nin  arrested  at  the 
radway  station  in  the  town  of  ClarenK.rrls  on  a 
charge  of  seditions  language,  and  thrown  into  tho 
county  jail  of  ^fayo.  He  was  subsequently  released 
and  ca.iie  to  America,  where  he  arrived  in  October' 
186^.  » 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MARTYBS. 


421 


SWOED  AND  PEN". 

knd-Ili«  W.t  Saves  Him  from  Arre.t  In  Dublin-Shoots  a  Head  Oountable 

\rl^      A        :    ,  ^'"^"^'^y-    Captain  Jas.  M..r„hy-In  the  War-Goes  to 

h^dand--Arr...ted--Tle.eased-Ke-Arrc«,ed--]OUse  Jruprisonment-ConL 
Back  to  America  Arrested.  John  K.  Caney  ("  Leo  ")-Arrested-Opi,rn^ 
of  h.s  Poetry.  J,,i,„  Locke  ("The  Southern  Gael  ")_ni8  Talents  and  Na 
tu.nauy-Arres,ed-The  "Council  of  Ten"  Arrested-Namel  of  the 
ir  r^niaT "'  ''"'''-'•      ""'-'''  '-:^-^'^^  °^  SchooliS: 

Captain  Jonx  A.  Geary.— Educated,  bra-e,  cool  and 
decisive  in  time  of  danger,  Captain   Geary  is  a  true 
type  of  tlie  band  of  Irish  officers  wliom  the  Fenian 
Biotberhoud  will  ever  remember  witJi  pride.     Born 
in  the  County  Limerick  about  the  year  1842,  he  came 
to  this  country  with  his  family,  while  yet  a'boy  and 
settled  in  Kentucky.     On  the  breaking'  out  of  the  war 
he  enlisted  as  a  piivate  soldier,  and,\y  his  bravery 
and  gx)od  conduct,  attained  the  rank  of  "Captain  long 
before   hostilities  ceased.     At   the  conclusion  of  the 
great  American  conflict,  his  first  thought  was  to  o-ive 
Ins  nnhtary  experience  to  aid  the  hiorating  move^ 
Tnent  in  the  land  of  his  birth.     Through  his  exertions 
a  fine  Circle  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood  was  formed 
m  Lexmgton,  Ky.,  and,  under  his  direction,  it  became 


.<  i 


^■*-%' 


ki  •*■ 

i, 

1 

I*  t; 


i>')     ! 


4 


I 


.(    (. 


fl  i: 


422 


SWORD   AND   PEN. 


one  of  the   most  efficient  in  the   org-anizutlon.     lie 
iiuule  CiU'ly  appliciition  to  be  placed  on  the  roll  for 
active  military  service;   and,   when  called  upon,  lie 
promptly  re])ortcd  in  New  York,  fully  i)repared  for 
duty,  without  the  ^expense  of  a  dollar  to  the  general 
Organization.     He  went  to  Ireland,  and,  on  hi8  arri- 
val, was  assigned  to  duty  in  Limerick.     A  short  time 
])revious  to  the  "  Habeas  Corpus  Suspension  Act,"  in 
Febniary,  18GG,  he  was  ordered  to  Dublin.     AVhen 
the  Government  coup  d'etat,  took  place  on  the  ITth  of 
that  month,  several  of  the  Irish-Americans  were  at 
once  arrested  in  their  lodgings.     Luckily  for  Captain 
Geary,  ho  had  left  his  lodgings  early  that  morning. 
During  his  absence  three  of  his   fellow-ofHcers,   who 
stayed  at  the  same  house,  were  arrested ;    on  beino- 
informed   of  which   the   Captain   determined   to   go 
southward  by  the  evening  train.      Arriving   at   the 
railroad  depot,  he  found  several  policemen  and  detec- 
tives on  tiie  lookout  for  "  suspects."     This  brought 
the  quick  wit  of  our  hero  into  play.     Touching,  ^^^th 
his  foot,  a  large  truidv  lying  on  the  platform,  he  a^ithori- 
tatively  inquired  for  its  owner;  that  individual  appear- 
ing,  he  was  ordered  to  open  the  trunk  at  once,  and 
the  assumed  detective  occupied  himself  busily  exam- 
ining  its  contents  until  the  train  was  just  starting^ 
when,  having  expressed  himself  satisfied  that  it  con- 
tained nothing  "contraband,"  he  coolly  stepped  on 
board  the  train,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  watching  or 
examining  parties  thereon,  and  was  carried  off  IVom 
under  the  very  noses  of  her  Majesty's  vigilmt  detec- 
tives. 


1 


If 


FKNIAN   HEROES   AND   MARTrRS. 


423 


so 


Tlie  second  day  following  found  him  in  the  streets 
of  Newcastle,   County  Li.nerick,  where   a   renc<nitro 
occurred,  in  which   Geary's  decisive,   soldierly   traits 
were  well  illustrated.     A  six-foot  sergeant  of  police, 
named   Sullivan,   observing   our    hero   alone   in   the 
vicinity  of  the  barrack,  thought  it  a  favorable  oi)por- 
tnnity  to  distinguish  and  recommend  himself  for  tho 
ong-coveted  Sub-Inspectorship,  by  capturing  single- 
handed    one    of   those    detested   "  propagandist/ of 
American  ideas."  Confidently  walking  np  to  the  Cap- 
tain,  he  claimed  him  as  the  Queen's  prisoner  ;  but  this 
was  a  slight  miscalculation.     Geary  had  gone  to  Ire- 
land  prepared  for  such  little  contingencies.     He  did 
not  think  an   rrish-Ameri(%'m  officer,  who  had  faced 
death  on  so  many  bloody  fields,  should  be  captured  in 
the  sti-cets  of  his  native  town  by  a  solitary  "  peeler  ;" 
tlie  cond)ined  honor  of  Limerick  and  old  Kentucky 
f<.rbade  it ;  so,  drawing  his  revolver,  he,  not  caring  to 
J<dl  the  fellow,  sent  a  bullet  through  the  shoulder  of 
the  aspiring  sergeant.     The  first   shot  not  disabling 
him,  another  near  the  same  spot  levelled  him,  and 
then,  after  a  single  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  bar- 
rack,  the  Captain  made  for  the  neigliboring  mountains 
The  cftbct  of  Captain  Geary's  lesson  was,  that  the 
police  always  went  in  sqrads  when  attempting   tlje 
capture   of  a   Fenian  officer,  •  especially   if  he   wore' 
*'sqnn re-toed  boots.'* 

On  arriving  in  the  mountains,  Captain  Geary  re- 
ceived temporary  shelter  in  a  turf  stack,  provisions 
being  conveyed  to  liim  at  night.     After  the  lapse  of  a  ' 
few  days,  he  was  provided  with  more  comfortable 


I 


.  I 


I'i 


fm- 


i 


424 


BWORD  AND   PEir. 


I 


J 


I 


!  I 


quarters  in  tlie  lioiiso  of  ono  of  those  patriotic  Ir*=^li 
l^rioBts  who  form  the  great  mnjority  of  the  clergy  of 
the  people  ;  the  acts  and  assertions  of  tlie  "  Queen's 
Ecclesiastics"  on  the  ono  hand,  and  flippant,  iunorant, 
Bclf-proclainied  atheistical  freethinkers  on  the  other, 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  Tn  Captain  Geary's 
case  the  character  of  the  true  Irish  priesthood  was 
nobly  sustained.  For,  knowing  his  history,  and  hon- 
oring the  bravery  and  humanity  displayed  in  the  ac- 
tion which  caused  him  to  bo  proclaimed  an  outlav^^ 
with  a  price  on  his  head,  \u  was,  for  the  six  weeks 
during  which  he  remained  in  Ireland  after  the  event, 
sheltered  exclusively  by  members  of  their  order.  He 
attended  a  funeral  in  their  company  in  the  guise  of  p. 
priest,  and  Anally  left  Ireland  as  a  youthful  mission- 
ary, being  accompanied  by  several  of  his  clerical 
friends  on  board  the  ship,  who  left  him  with  fervent 
prayers  for  his  safety.  The  pistols,  which  stood  him 
in  such  good  need,  he  lei^  in  charge  of  a  priest  until 
the  time  arrives  for  again  using  them  in  the  g(»od  old 
cause  of  liberty  and  latherland. 

Ca])tain  Geary  arrived  safely  in  New  York  in  the 
latter  part  of  April,  when  he  at  once  reported  to  Johii 
O'Maliony.  Some  members  of  the  Canadian  party, 
then  maturing  their  plans  for  the  raid  across  the  fron- 
tier, meeting  the  Captain,  offered  him  a  Colonel's  com- 
mand in  the  expedition.  'Not  wishing  to  identify 
himself  with  that  party,  he  declined  the  proffered 
lionor ;  but,  on  relating  the  occurrence  "he expressed," 
says  an  informant,  "  the  intention  of  taking  part  in 
tlie  movement  should  it  be  actually  made;   as,  well 


»ENIAN  HKK0K8  AND  MABTVBS. 


425 


"  «  .n  Ireland  was  impossible  for  some  time,  he  was 
W.M  MR  to  ievotc  part  of  tlie  interim  in  8t,  king  •  bl.»>- 
at  the  uplioldors  of  the  'Felon  Flag'  wi.enever  an 
op^ortnnity  offered."    Aeting  on  tl.if  :1:ZZ,  Z 

ti^l  .  '^',  ''""'^  "^  ^'<^S™---'  ^as  among 

tlofteers  captured  with  O'Neill  by  tlu.  United  State! 

upliftmg  of  the  green  biinner  on  the  old  soil. 

Captain  James  Mtopht  came  to  this  country  when 
a  boy,  and  alter  a  time  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
btatcs  ar        m  which  he  served  his  full  term,  and  was 
discharged      On   the    breaking  ont    of  the  war    Z 
re-enhsted  m  the  20th  Massachusetts  Volunteers  and 
fought  his  way  up  from  the  ranks  to  a  captaincy     He 
was  wounded  at   the  battle  of  Chancellorsville    and 
placed  in  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  from  which  he 
resigned  at  the  close  of  the  war.     In  the  fall  of  1865 
he  visited  Ireland  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his 
shattered  health,  was  arrested  in  Dublin  at  the  time 
the  Irish  PetrpU  was  seized,  .but  claiming  his  Ameri- 
can citizenship,  he  was  reloaded  after  a  week's  imoris-  ■ 
onment,.  '^ 

The  authorities  claimed  that  Murphy  "con- 
tinued to  engage  actively  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  he  organ«ation-going  down  frequently  to 
Athlone,  Mulhngar  and  elsewhere  throughout 
the  country,  for  the  purpose  of  swearing  in  mem-. 
bere  and  otherwise  forwarding  the  movement  » 
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SWORD   AND   PEir* 


eion  of  tlie  Habeas  Corpus  Act,  and  sliortly  after- 
wards was  sought  to  be  made  the  victim  of  a  viUain- 
ous  conspiracy.  He  was  charged  with  being  a  deser- 
ter from  the  British  army,  removed  to  a  military 
prison  and  tliere  subjected  to  atrocious  tyranny. 

At  his  trial  by  court-martial  suborned  perjurers 
swore  to  his  identity,  but  the  real  deserter  appearing 
as  evidence  in  his  favor,  and  his  certificates  of  milita- 
ry service  in  the  United  States  army  having  been  pro- 
duced, he  was  acquitted.  On  his  discharge,  however, 
he  was  immediately  rearrested  by  the  detectives  (who 
w^ere  on  hand  for  that  purpose)  and  conveyed  to 
Mountjoy  prison,  where  he  remained  until  the  23d 
December,  1866,  when,  after  an  incarceration  of 
eleven  months,  he  was  liberated.  Captain  Murphy 
brought  an  action  for  false  imprisonment  against  hia 
military  persecutors,  but  they  got  the  trial  postponed, 
and  he  arrived  in  America  5th  January,  1867,  to  de- 
mand the  protection  of  the  American  Government 
while  prosecuting  his  claim  before  the  law  courts  in 
Ireland,  to  which  country  he  intends  returning  as 
Boon  as  he  can  be  assured  of  this  protection. 

John  K.  Casey,  known  as  a  young  writer  of  fine 
promise  by  his  contributions  to  the  national  press, 
with  the  signature  of  "Leo,"  has  an  additional  claim 
on  the  aiFections  of  his  countrymen  from  the  perse- 
cution his  talents  have  brought  upon  him.  He  was 
arrested  on  the  13th  March,  1867,  at  Castlerea,  and 
lodged  in  the  County  Jail  of  Koscommon.  Mr.  Casey 
is  the  author  of  a  volume  of  national  poetry,  entitled 


ki: 


f  after- 
villain- 
i  deser- 
lilitary 

f. 

jrjurera 
pearing 
milita- 
en  pro 
3\vever, 
es  (who 
}jed  to 
;he  23d 
,tion  of 
^lurpliy 
hist  Ilia 
tponed, 
',  to  de- 
rnment 
flirts  in 
aiiig  as 


of  fine 
d  press, 
d  claim 
e  perse- 
He  was 
•ea,  and 
r.  Casey 
entitled 


FENIAN  HEROES  A2TD  MARTYRS.  427 

gends      pu bhsl.ed   in    Dublin,    which    was   received 
by  the  cntics  and  public  with  merited  fa  „       I  t 

!ritL         -^    T'"'  P°'i"«»  in  the  eyes   of  E li.h 

cut.cs    wlnle  the  Irish  journals  admire  and  indo  se 
both  h>s   music   and   his   nationality.     The   I  o  don 

fevu^  thinks  it  not  an  "  unpleasan"^^  "  to^  .  ;„' ''^^ 
Its  tamt  of  treason."  " 

"And  here,"  continues  the  liemew,  "we  mi..ht  re- 

"s:i:STh'''  ''""^''  "f  Sham'roeW  ^'^l"^^. 
resentatve  of  the  opposite  side  to  'Oranc-eism  '  tl,>t 
where  the  latter  is  rabid,  stupid,  and  nonse^-xl  a 

le  put  m  a  fascmatmg,  tolerant  and  intelligible  shape 
wh.ch  would  by  an  outsider  render  it  incont  X  J 
preferable  to  the  loyalty  of  Orangemen  o''utf 
the  Saxon  comes  in  for  it,  but  no  Saxon  cou  d  S 
over-vexed  at  being  railed  at  so  eloquently  in  lu's  own 
anguage,  and   in  a  manner  which  demonstrat     Z 

The  ^«feW  truthfully  says  of  these  ballads  and 
Bongs:  "Always  true  to  the  national  sentiment,  re- 
flecfang  agemnne  spirit  of  patriotism,  inspired  by  the 
tender  and  heroic  memories  of  Irish  history,  and  by 
that  glowmg  hope  which  no  misfortunes  or  reverses 
have  been  able  to  extinguish  in  the  Irish  heart,  mu- 
sieal  in  tlieir  flow,  clear  and  graceful  in  their  einres- 
6ion,  those  ballads,  songs,  and  legends  will  be  a  som'ce 


8W0ED  Am)  PEN". 

of  real  pleasure  to  all  who  feel  liow  deeply  the  na- 
tional spirit  of  this  country  is  indebted  for  its  sustaiu- 
ment  and  intensity  to  the  popular  national  poetry." 

John  Locke  was  born  in  the  ancient  little  town  of 
Callan,  County  Kilkenny,  about  nineteen  years  ago, 
of  humble  parents,  who  gave  their  son  as  good  an 
education  as  the  village  school   afforded.     He  was  a 
great  favorite  with  his  schoolmates,  on  account  of  his 
innate   kindness   of  heart;  and   his   attention   to  his 
studies   and   natural   smartness   made   him   a    great 
favorite  with  his  teacher.     After   some  time  he  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  National  School  Assistant ; 
but  although  he  had  a  Government  situation,  he  could 
not  resist  the  appeals  of  nationality.     When  his  day's 
work  was  done  he  met  the  "  malcontents  of  Bridge 
street,"  among  whom  were  Dunne,  the   nailer,  "of 
parliamentary  renown,"  Edward  Coyne,  James  Cody 
and  others.     Young  Locke  was  an  early  riser,  and  his 
mornings  before  school  hours  were   devoted  to  the 
muses.     A  great  lover  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  he 
has  interwoven  in  his  songs  the  impressions  made  on 
him  by  the  surrounding  localities.     Our  young  poet 
found  inspiration  in  the  scenery  by  which  he  was  sur- 
rounded— in  the  traditions  associated  with  them  in 
the  history  of  his  country— in  the  miseries  of  the  peo- 
ple.    He  entered  with  enthusiasm  into  the  doctrines 
of  the  Irish  People^  and  became  a  contributor  to  that 
journal.     On  its  seizure  he  wrote  for  the  Irishman, 
under  the  nom  de  plume  of  "  The  Southern  Gael " 
and  subsecjuently  was  arrested  and  sent  to  jail. 


FENIAN  HEK0E8  AND  MARTYK8. 


429 


ago, 


Early  in  1867,  a  so-called  "  Council  of  Ten"  were 
captured    in   Camden  street,    Dublin.     Their   names 
were  given  as  follows  :  Henry  Hughes,  Francis  Holly- 
wood :     he  had  a  six-barrelled  revolver   in  his  posses- 
sion, was  said  to  be  a  prominent  Fenian,  and  one  of 
"Hughes'  captains."  Joseph  O'Hara,  he  had  two  for- 
midable looking  revolvers  in  his  possession— one  with 
nine  chambers— and  both  loaded  and  capped.    John 
Walsh,  reported  to  be  "high  in  the  organization,  doing 
the  duty  of  emissary  in  communication  between  dis° 
tricts   and    circles."      Owen    Martin,    another   "B" 
.  James  Martin,  also  "  B."     Thomas  Cullen,  John  Law- 
less, a  prominent  member.     Arthur  Forester,  a  book- 
keeper, whose  career  was  "  pretty  well  known  to  the 
police."     He  was  a  sub-centre  for  the  ^fanch  ister  dis- 
trict, and  had  been  extensively  employed  in  the  Or- 
ganization.    He  was  one  of  the  contributors  to  the 
Irish  People,  under  the  name  of  "  William  Tell"  and 
"  Angus,"  and  was  in  Dublin  in  1865,  under  the  name 
of  Thomas  Brown.     He  fled  befoi-e  the  Habeas  Corpus 
act  was  suspended.     He  went  to  Chester  in  command 
of  the   Manchester   men   during  the   demonstration 
there,  and  then  crossed  over  to  Dublin— also  in  charge 
of  them— where  they  were  arrested  on  the  16th  Feb- 
ruary.    After  being  a  short  time  in  custody  he  was 
released  on  account  of  his  youth,  and  permitted  to  go 
at  large.     "  It  was,"  says  the  report,  "  this  young  fel- 
low  who  offered  the  desperate  resistance,  and  tried  to 
shoot  the  ofiicer  who  was  struggling  with  him,  and 
two  constables  were  obliged  to  knock  him  down  and 
wring  his  revolver  from  him.     When  disarmed  he  said 


tr;^  ■^  if-  ^^ 


X.  r 


430 


SWOED   AND   PEN. 


that  alio  rogre  tod  was  that  he  did  not  shoot  the  offi. 
cer-tl  at  he  did  rot  care  which  of  the  two  wont  to 
hell  or  heaven,  but  that  either  should.  This  prisoner 
was  also  known  to  the  police  as  a  companion  of  Bainea 
n  tampermg  w.th  the  allegiance  of  soldie.-s,  pai-tieu. 
larljr  those  of  the  30tli  regiment." 


Geneeal  Faeiola  was  arrested  in  the  Summer  of 

J"ly  29th    betore    the    police    magistrates,    at    the 
Lower  Castle  Yard,  Dublin,  tho  prisoner  ^..  give^ 
a  seat  as  he  suflered  considerable  pain  from  a  bayonet 
jound  ,n  h,s  left  leg.     lie  said  he  was  not  in  a  con- 
d.tion  to  procure  legal  aid.     Informations  were  read, 
one   fro,„   the  wretched  Masscy,  who   deposed   that 
General  Oetare  Louis  Fariola  came  to  Ireland  to  take 
part  m  the  rismg,  and  that  he  was  introduced  to  him 
in  London  by  General  Cluseret,  who  said  he  was  to  be 
clnet  of  staff.     Witness  was  the  deputy  of  General 
Uuseret,  under  whom  the  rising  on  the  5th  of  March 
was  to  be  made. 

Other  informations  having  been  read,  the  prisoner 
was  asked  whether  he  had  anything  to  say  in  defense. 
Herephed,  "Icannot  say  anything  on  such  mea-n-e 
evidence  as  has  been  produced  against  mo.  There  is 
no  evidence  to  show  that  I  was  one  of  the  conspira- 
tors. I  therefore  have  nothing  to  say,  and  I  think  I 
should  be  discharged."  Col.  Lake  said,  "  The  m,a.ris. 
trates  are  of  opinion  that  your  complieit/  with  a  rev- 
olutionary movement  has  been  established  so  far  as  to 


® 


®0 


FENIAN    HEROES   AND   MAlil'VKS. 


431 


make  it  imi)erative  on  them  to  commit  yon  for  trial." 
lie  was  tlieu  formally  committed. 

National  Schoolmasters  and  Fenianism.— Bv  a 
return  to  an  order  of  the  House  of  Conmions,  dated 
the  8th  of  March,  18G6,  of  "  all  schoolmasters  arrested 
m  Ireland  for  Ribbonism,  sedition,  or  Fenianism,  from 
the  1st  of  January,  18G0,  to  the  latest  date  ascertain- 
able,   we  learn  that  the  total  number  of  such  arrests 
was  thirty-four.     Of  those  thirty-one  were   charged 
with  Fenianism,  two  with  Eibbonism,  and  one  with 
sedition;  and  the  entire  thirty-four  appear  under  the 
descri])tion  of  national  school  teachers.     Their  names 
and  the  schools  to  which  they  were  attached  are  given 
thus:  Thomas   Doherty   Brougham,    Tipperary;  Mi- 
chael  Hyland,  Galway;  Daniel  Darragh,  Ballycastlo, 
Antrim;    Patrick    Mulligan,    Manooney,    Armagh; 
James  Cheevers,   Glynn,   Carlow;  Thomas  Duggin' 
Ballincollig,   Cork,  E. ;  Jeremiah  Gleeson,  Knockna- 
gowna,  Cork,  E. ;  Cornelius  Sullivan,  Blarney  Village, 
Cork,  E. ;  William  Conway,  Passage,  W,,  Cork,  E. ; 
James  Leary,  Carrigtoohill,  Cork,  E. ;  Michael 'cro- 
iim,  Rosnacahara,  Cork,  W. ;  James  Leliane,  Lisheen, 
Cork,  W. ;  Deelan  Monsell,  Skull,  Cork,  W. ;  Bar- 
tholomew  Brien,   Gooscroneen,    Cork,   ^Y.;    Patrick 
Murphy,  Cahergariife,  Cork,  W. ;  Patrick  O'Donncll. 
Arramore  Island,  Donegal;  John  Magee,  Dromore, 
Down;  Daniel   Kelliher,   Killarney,   Kerry;    James 
O'Callaghan,    Ballyhane,    Kilkenny;    Arthur    GoiT, 
Leitrim,  Leitrim  ;  Wm.  Wall,  Kllmallock,  Limerick  ; 
William  Abitt,  Phillipstown,  Louth ;  Henry  M.  Cur- 


432 


SWORD  Aim  PISH, 


'T,  Bchma,  Mayo ;  J„hn  r)„fP      t  • 
James  H^Iand,  cL^,  Ma;„    jl  ^pr"'"^'-'  ^ayo; 
barna,   Meath  ;  Edward   Rocho    T  T      "*-""''  ^^"'"''- 
Patrick  Brie,,,  Tube,.e,,„y;tllo     M^^?""«''''".• 
Westmeath;   John   O'TooIp    p1  ,     '  '-''''"•^stown, 
Hugh  B^rne,  Kingstowa^"'"'  ^""^'l'"^''^.  Wexford  ,' 


niska,  Kayo; 
iHgan,  Ealna- 
Monaglian ; 
'had  Clearv. 
»    1  ipporarj, 
I'owenstowii, 
,  Wexford  : 


PENIAN   nEROES  AND  MAJtTYRg. 


433 


DAKII^G  ESCAPES. 

John  Klrwan-fn  Pnpal  Brigado-An  Active  Fenian  Centrc-Wonndod  at  Tal- 
lahgt-Arrested-Placed  in  the  Meath  no^pital-IIla  Escape  ^"mi      cIlo 
nel  Leonard  Takes  Part  In  the  D.oghoda  Rising-Mystcr^.H  Appearance  n 
a  House,  and  Escape  from  it-Ai -est  of  Colonoi  t     r      '^^"'P'^f "  "^«  " 
Dacey  in   Manchester-Eon.anded-cl^Jits't  Cou^l^^^^^^^^^^ 

^at'oT  Th"  v'^'t?''?  T'  ^'""^'''^  '^  Police-The  Police  and  Mob  d! 
feated-The  Van  Brolien  Open  a».d  the  Prisoners  Itelca.cd.    Wild  ExcUe 
ment     Captain  Dacey.    Captain  Lawrence   O'Brien-Goes  to  Irelaml-Ar'- 
rested-Committed  for  Trial-Bold  and  Mysterious  Escape  from  Clonmei 

Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  escape  of 
Stepliens  from  Richmond  jail,  and  the  daring  attempt 
of  Noonan  to  escape  from  his  captors.  There  are 
other  instances  of  adroitness,  enterprise  and  darino- 
which  distinguish  the  pnrsuit  of  Fenianism  nnder 
difficulties,  and  which  call  for  honorable  mention. 
The  successful  adventure  of  Stephens  has  been  eclipsed 
by  those  which  followed. 

John  Kirwan,  a  Dublin  «  Centre,"  became  widely 
known  by  his  "  mysterious"  escape  from  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  Mr.  Kirwan  had  been  in  the  Dublin  po- 
lice,  and  left  it  to  join  the  Papal  Brigade,  in  which  he 
Bcrved,  like  many  others  who  have  become  able  Fe- 
nian propagandists,  with  honor.     On  his  return  he 


!«: 


M- 


434 


DARING  ESCAPES. 


obtained  a  mercantile  Bituation  in  Dublin,  and  soon 
after  he  was  appointed,  throvigli  much  local  inflnmco, 
to  the  position  of  turnkey  in  the  Four  Courts  Debtors 
Prison.  Subsequently  he  left  the  prison,  and  was 
appointed  ranger  by  the  Grand  Canal  Company.  In  • 
September,  18C5,  orders  were  given  for  his  arrest,  but 
he  contrived  to  keep  out  of  the  way,  and,  up  to  April, 
1867,  to  evade  his  pursuers,  although  it  was  well  known 
tliat  'ho  was  taking  a  most  active  part  in  the  Fenian 

organization.  /.  -nr      i 

He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  rising  of  March, 
and  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  rencontre  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Tallaght.     He  was  arrested  on  the 
Gth  April  in  a  house  in  Bihsop  street,  and  was  taken 
before  Dr.  Carte,  who  committed  him  for  trial  on  a 
charge  of  high  treason.     When  brought  before  the 
magistrates  it  was  stated  « that  the  prisoner  was  one 
of  the  persons  who  made  an  attack  on  the  Stepaside 
constabulary  station  on  the  night  of  Shrove  Tuesday 
This  statement  was,  to  a  great  extent,  corroborated 
by  the  fact  that  he  was  badly  wounded  in  the  breast 
by  a  riile  bullet  which  had  passed  through  him  to  the 
clavicle,  which  it  fractured."     His  wife  was  in  atten- 
dance, and  as  she  was  in  a  delicate  condition,  and  as 
her  husband  was  in  a  dying  state,  she  begged  the 
magistrate  to  have  the  latter  sent  to  one  of  the  hos- 
pitals of  the  city  where  he  would  receive  proper  med- 
ical treatment.  ,  .  i   .    ^i 

As  Mr.  Kirwan's  character  stood  very  high  m  the 
estimation  of  influential  persons,  his  wife's  request 
was  complied  with,  an4  instead  of  being  sent  to  the 


1(1  soon 
(iiirnco, 
)el)tors' 
11  d  wa3 
tiy.  In  . 
est,  but 
0  April, 
i  known 
Fenian 

March, 
e  in  the 
d  on  the 
as  taken 
dal  on  a 
fore  the 
was  one 
itepaside 
Ciiesday. 
oborated 
Lie  breast 
m  to  the 
in  atten- 
n,  and  as 
gged  the 
'  the  hos- 
►per  med- 

gh  in  the 
s  request 
3nt  to  the' 


FENIAN  nER0E8  AND  MARTYRS.  435 

prison  infirmary,  ho  was  ordered  to  tlie  Mcath  ITos- 
pital,  where  every  attention  was  shown  to  him.  Kir- 
wan  was  well  known  to  bo  a  most  determined  and 
darmg  man.  He  had,  on  two  previous  occasions,  ef- 
tected  his  escape,  and  the  authorities  gave  special  di- 
rections  that  lie  should  be  most  closely  watcht-d,  and 
two  policemen  were  appointed  to  guard  him  mrrht 
and  day.  ^ 

^  His  health  was  exceedingly  feeble;  but  the  authori- 
ties now  declare  that  this  was  a  pretense.     On  Tues- 
day evening,   the  9th  April,  about  half-past  seven 
o  clock,  the   police  constable,  in  charge  of  the  pris- 
oner, left  him  for  a  short  time  to  get  a  draught  in 
the  apothecary's  room.      The    policeman    was    ab- 
sent about  seven  minutes,  and  on  his  return  found  that 
the  prisoner  had  escaped.   Th«  room  in  which  Kirwaii 
was  confined  is  situated  in  the  corridor  of  the  acci- 
dent ward,  and  when  the  constable  left,  the  invalid 
made  a  dash  fpr  his  life,  and  saved  it.     How  he  o-ot 
out  is  one  of  the  «  mysteries."     He  left  with  nothi^ig 
on  but  his  shirt  and  drawers.     It  is  thought  that  ho 
made  his  way  into  Long  Lane  or  Camden  Eow,  where 
there  were  confederates  to  assist  him.     As  soon  as  his 
escape  was  made  known,  of  course  there  was  perplex- 
ing excitement.      Kirwan,  however,  made  his  way  to 
America,  and  has  taken  up  his  residence  in  New  York. 

The  escape  in  July,  1807,  of  the  Fenian  Colonel 
Leonard,  who  participated  in  the  insurrectionary  move- 
ment in  Drogheda  in  the  March  previous,  created  a 
great  deal  of  excitement  in  that  town.   The  circurastan- 


V 


k36 


SABINO  ESOATEa. 


COS  wero  aa  follows :    A  rcsp cotaWe  professional  gontle- 
]uj,u— to  Ills  aBtoiiiwhiueiit— tliricovored  a  porHon  in  tb© 
upper  part  of  liiri  liouso,  witli  heavy  beard  and  an  ap- 
pearance altogether  roBenibling  Colonel  Leonard.    On 
tho  gentleman's   approach,  the   stranger    fled  down 
stairs  towards  the  kitchen,  and  on  bis  pasRago  thereto 
was  observed  by  two  other  gentlemen,  friends  of  tho 
proprietor  of  tho  house,  who  also  had  an  opportunity 
of  recognizing  him,  as  his  photograph   had  been  ex- 
hibited since  March  in  all  tho   stationers*    windows 
of  the  town.     The  owner  of  the  house  sent  for  a  po- 
liceman, who  hapjjened  to  bo  on  beat  near  the  liouso, 
Sub-cunstable  Gannon.     On  the  arrival  of  the  latter, 
and  having  learned  the  particulars,  ho  was  about  pro- 
reeding  to  tho  kitchen  to  arrest  the  fugitive,  but  \ya8 
strongly  recommended  uot  to  do  so  alone,  but  proviclo 
moro'men,  as,  if  he  went  by  himself,  he  would  certain* 
ly  be  shot,  for  tho  other  party  was  no  doubt  armed 
with  a  revolver.     Gannon,  who  was  a  man  over  six 
feet  in  height,   and  of  resolute  courage,  declined  to 
give  the  stranger  a  chance  to  escape,  and  determined 
upon   arresting  him  himself.     lie  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded to  the  kitchen,  but  lo!  the  i3risoner  had  lied  by 
the  back  door  into   the  garden ;  and  now  comes  per- 
haps tho  most  mysterious   affair.     A  door  near  the 
centre  of  the  garden,  which  leads  out  to  the  street,  and 
which  had  not  been  for  a  long  period  of  time  used  for 
passing  in  or  out,  was  found  opened,  and  the  stranger 
gone.     How  the  fugitive  had  provided  himself  with  a 
key  was  and  is  a  "  perplexing  mystery."  Several  houses 
in' tho  town,  on  which  suspicion  rested,  were  since 


gontle- 
1  in  tliQ 
.  uu  ap- 
•d.   On 

I  down 
thereto 
i  of  tllO 
>rtunity 
)ceii  ex- 
aiidowa 
or  a  po 
B  house, 

0  hitter, 
out  pro 
but  was 
provide 
certain* 
t  armed 
Dver  six 
ilhied  to 
erniined 
^ly   pro« 

1  lied  by 
incs  per- 
near  the 
rcet,  and 
used  foi* 
stranger 
f  with  a 
[i\  houses 
ere  since 


. 


VEmAJS  IlEr  n  8  AND  MAETYRfl,  4.*]  J 

lenrehc.l,  vvithout  a  successful  ivsuli.     Few  im-idonb 
\\itli  Fcnianisin   created  nioro  jjossip  in 


connected 
T^i'i'-i'lieda. 


^n  the  tOth  September,  one  of  the  best  planned  and 
most  ably  executed  deeds  was  accomph'slied  in  iMun- 
Chester,   the  great  centre  of  Englisl,  marilcturinc. 
nidustry.     On  the  17th,  two  days  previous,Tfo  pohce" 
'>»<'n3  by  accident  than  intention,  fell  in  with  and  cap- 
tured   Colonel  Thomas  J.  Kelly  and  Captain  Dacey 
in   that   city.      The  American  accent,  the  revolve/a 
lound  on  the  prisoners,  their  anxiety  to  use  them,  all 
combined  to  persuade  the  Manchester  constables  that 
they  had  caught—perhaps— a   Fenian   leader.     The 
thought  struck  them  that  one  of  them  might  bo  'Colo- 
nel Kelly.     The  informer,  Corydon,  was  immediately 
needed  to  indentify  him ;   but,  although  that  blood- 
hound had  been  in  Liverpool  striving  to  scent  Kel- 
ly, ho  could  not  be  found.     This   caused   delay,  so 
that  when  the  prisoners  were  brought  up  a  second 
time  for  examination,  a  further  remand  was  necessary 
—waiting  Corydon  and  a  warrant  from  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant of  L-cland.     The  following  account,  which  ex- 
hibits the  fearful  excitement  of  the  occasion,  and  the 
ability  by  which  the  affair  was  conducted,  is  condensed 
from  an  English  journal,  the  Manchester  Times,  2l8t 
September : 

"After  the  remand  was  granted,  the  prisoners,  who 
gave  their  names  as  John  Wright  and  Martin  Wil- 
liams, were  removed  to  the  cell's  below.  The  court 
was  densely  crowded,  and  it  was  observed  that  the 


'y,^^^V7: 


f     '.■  M>:- 


-;  \ 


ii 


438 


DAEING  ESCAPES. 


greater  iiuin"ber  of  those  present  took  an  ir  tense  in- 
terest in  the  proceedings.  A  number  of  strangers 
crowded  the  corridors  and  the  open  rooms  below  the 
court.  After  the  court  adjourned,  those  persons  re- 
mained, and  by  the  time  the  van  arrived,  three  o'clock, 
the  narrow  street  in  the  rear  of  the  court  house  was 
filled  Ittan  excited  throng.  A  considerable  force  of 
police  Ws  told  off  to  j^eep  the  van  clear.  Mean- 
while, the  attention  of  a  Superintendent  had  been 
called  to  two  men  of  soldierly  appearance,  who  had 
been  seen  lounging  about  all  the  morning.  An  inspec- 
tor and  constable  went  forthwith  to  arrest  them .  One  of 
them  made  off  and  escaped.  The  other,  a  tall,  pow- 
ful  man,  made  a  desperate  resistance.  He  drew  from 
his  breast  a  long-handled,  loose-springed  knile,  which, 
on  the  blade  being  thrown  forward,  became  a  for- 
midable dagger,  the  spring  tightenir. ;  with  a  click. 
The  inspector  seized  his  prisoner  by  the  wrist,  and 
while  he  was  in  the  act  of  wrenching  the  weapon  out 
of  his  right  hand,  the  fellow  aimed  a  fearful  blow  with 
his  left,  which  caughf  the  constable  full  in  the  eye. 
Some  more  constables  came  upon  the  scene  and  com- 
pleted the  capture.  The  man  was  searched  and  hand- 
cuffed. A  few  minutes  afterwards  the  prisoners,  in- 
cluding Kelly  and  D-^cey,  were  ranrched  between  a 
double  row  of  c  -nstables  to  the  steps  of  the  van.  A 
murmur  rose  from  the  crowd  as  the  prisoners,  who 
ware  in  handcuffs,  were  placed  inside  the  vehicle. 

"  The  prison  vai  then  proceeded  through  the  city  in 
the  direction  ol  the  gaol.  The  van  was  divided  into 
BCDarate  compartments,  each  intended  for  a  pris'^ner. 


'■    -  kl 


FEmAN  HEEOES  AND  MABITES. 


439 


n  tense  in- 
strangers 
below  the 
lersons  re- 
3e  o'clock, 
house  was 
le  force  of 
r.  Mean- 
had  been 
,  who  had 
^n  inspec- 
n.  One  of 
tall,  pow- 
Irew  from 
le,  which, 
ime  a  for- 
1  a  click, 
wrist,  and 
eapon  out 
blow  with 
1  the  eye. 
and  com- 
and  hand- 
soners,  in- 
between  a 
3  van.  A 
tners,  wlio 
hide. 
:he  city  in 
dded  into 
pris'^ner. 


i 


The  two  Fenians,  together  with  several  women  and 
young  boys  were  the  occupants  of  the  vehicle,  which  was 
accompanied  by  eleven  policemen— seven  besides  the 
driver  rpon  it,  and  four  following  in  a  cab  behind; 
lour  were  on  the  box ;  two  beh^jid,  and  Sergeant  Brett 
was  mside  the  van  in  the  middle  compartment.     The 
van   proceeded  quietly   antil  they  arriveigt  the  rail- 
way arch,  on  the 'Hyde  road,  near  the  claPfits.     Tlie 
officers  in  front  noticed  a  crowd  of  men,  the  majority 
of  whom  were  armed  with  revolvers.      This  crowd 
was  composed  of  men  dressed,  some  in  cloth  and  some 
m   lustian;  but  xhere  were  not  many  in  the  garb  of 
workingmen;    the    majority   seemed  better   dressed. 
Ihey  appeared  to  be  acting  in  concert,  and  a  Fenian 
named  Wm.  O'Meara  Allen,  acted  as  leader.     The 
moment  the  van  approached  the  arch  Allen  shouted 
to  the  driver  to  stop.     This  was  followed  by  a  volley 
of  pistol  shots.     A  policeman  incited  the" driver  to 
drive  on.     Simultaneously,  however,  the  Fenians  in 
front  fired  at  the  near  horse,  and  shot  it  through  the 
neck,  and  the  driver  was  knocked  off  his  box.     A  mo- 
ment afterwards  the  other  horse  was  also  shot.     Sev- 
eral of  the  officers  narrowly  escaped  being  shot,  and 
only  saved  themselves  by  ducking  their  heads.  '  TJie 
progress  of  the  van  was  effectually  prevented.   About 
twenty  of  the  assailants  formed  a  cordon  round  the 
van,  and  kept  the  police  at  bay.     Several  bystanders 
joined  with  the  police,   and  made  a  rush ;  but  tliey 
could   do  nothing  against  a  score  of  desperate  mei 
witli  loaded  pistols.     In  the  meantime,  the  remainder 
of  tho  gang  had  attacked  the  van.     They  were  armed 


•m 


::■  t. 


t    i     f' 


440 


DAEING   ESCAPES. 


with  hatchets,  hcammers,  and  stones,  with  which  they 
tried  to  force  an  entrance.      The  van,  wliich  was  a  very 
strong  one,  resisted  their  efforts,  till  at  last  a  party  ol 
the  men  managed  to  haul  a  very  large  stone  upon  the 
roof,     and     soon     pounded    the    top    of    the    van 
into  chips.     The  door  was  by  this  time  nearly  forced 
open,  wh^the  leader,  who  had  a  pistol  in  each  hand, 
put  one  to  the  lock,  fired  it,  and  burst  the  door  open. 
The  gradually  increasing  crowd  of  spectators  had,  in 
the  meantime,  made  several  charges,  but  were  easily 
defeated  by  the  occasional  firing  of  pistol  shots.     The 
police  are  of  opinion  that  some  of  the  pistols  were 
not  loaded  with  ball,  for  several  times,  when  they  were 
fired  point  blank,   no   effect  followed.     One  of  the 
bystanders  was  shot  through  the  ancle,  and  one  of 
the  policemen  from  the  cab,  who  came  up  to  assist 
the  others,  received  a  shot  in  the  back.     The  leader, 
Allen,  was  seen  to  fire  five  shots  at  the  van  before  it 
was  burst  open.     When  the  door  was  forced,  the 
leader   called  to  the  prisoners  to  come  out.     They 
were,  of  course,  locked  up  in  their  separate  compart- 
ments.    The  leader  then  asked  Brett  for  the  keys,  but 
he   refused   to   give  them,  upon  which   Allen  fired. 
Brett  was  shot  in  the  head,  the  ball  entering  the  eye, 
and  coming  out  near  the  top  of  the  hat.     Brett  stag- 
gered out  of  the  van  as  soon  as  Allen  had  possessed 
himself  of  the  keys-     Allen   then  released  the  two 
Fenians,  and  the  whole  party  decamped  across  in  the 
direction  of  the  Ashton  Road. 

"Allen  was  seen  going  along  in  the  company  of 
Kelly,  and  he  was  heard  by  the  bystanders  to  say, 


. 


icli  they 
is  a  very 
party  ol 
pon  the 
lie  V9,n 
Y  forced 
h  liand, 
)r  open, 
had,  in 
B  easily 
3.  The 
Is  were 
ey  were 
of  the 
one  of 

0  assist 
leader, 

)efore  it 
edj  the 
They 
impart- 
jys,  but 

1  fired. 
;he  eye, 
tt  stag- 
assessed 
le  two 
3  in  the 

)any  of 
to  say, 


FENIAN  HEE0E8  AND  MARTYRS. 


441 


Kelly  I  will  die  for  yon.'     Some  yonng  men  in  tlio 
crowd  gave  chase.     Allen,  with  one  or  two  otho 
contmued  their  flight  over  the  fields.      At   Ashton 
Koad,  a  pohce-constable  joined  the  chase,  and  captnred 

Sht  f  r-!  "^T^'.  "'^''^   ^^''"^'^^^  ^^'^'^^^  «f  Eliza 
Street    City  Eoad,   Ilulme.      Another  young  man 

Sid  Tv'  ''  ^r'^^'"'^'  ^^^  ^--  Alkn,  and 

ol?.     1      .  r-     ^^'  ''"^'"'^  ^^^^^^^1^'  -"d  threat- 
ened  to  shoot  his  pursuer  with  his  revolver.     Hunter 

however,  who  was  a  powerful  young  fellow,  closed  with 
him,  wrested  the  pistol  from  him,  and  struck  him  with 
It  several  blows  on  the  head,  causing  a  very  ugly 
wound.  Other  assistance  then  came  up.  Allen  was 
Identified  by  twenty  or  thirty  witnesses  as  the  leader 
01  the  gang,  and  the  man  who  entered  the  van  and 
snot  -Drett. 

"From  the  statement  of  eye-witnesses,  we  are  enabl- 
ed to  add  further  details.    A  very  acute  looker-on,  who 
lives  near  the  railway  arch,  had  noticed  a  number  of 
strange  suspicious-looking  men  loitering  in  the  neigh- 
borhood all  the  morning.     Some  of  them  visited  the 
neighboring  mn,  '  The  Kailway  Hotel,'  from  time   to 
time,  and  then  went  across  the  road  into  the  unen- 
closed field   along   the   line  of  railway.     They  were 
stiffly-built  men,  and  some  of  them  looked  as  if  they 
had.  been  soldiers.     One  of  them  was  rather  taller 
than  the  rest.     He  was  a  fair  complexioned  man,  with 
a  black  coat  and  cap.     He  appeared  to  be  the  leader 
Our  informant  felt  sure  that  '  something  was  goin<.  to 
happen.       About  four  o'clock  he  was  .o   occupied     * 
with  watching  the  men,  that  ho  did  not  see  the  prison 


442 


DARING  ESCAPES. 


m !,: 


lil 


¥  i 


*   i 


■  iHi 


van  when  it  was  coming  up  the  road.     He  saw  the 
tall  man  standing  with  ten  or  twelve  others  on  a  bank 
of  clay  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.     He  put  up 
his  hand,  and  several  other  men  who  had  been  loiter- 
ing about  joined  those  on  the  bank,  making  the  num- 
ber from  fifteen  to  twenty.     The  tall  man,  who  acted 
as  Captain,  then  drew  a  revolver,  which  looked  like  a 
new  one,  and  it  shone  in  the  light.     The  other  men 
at  once  did  the  same.     All   the  pistols  were  quite 
bright.     At  this  moment  the  rumble  of  the  van  was 
heard,  and  the  leader  stepped  into  the  middle  of  the 
road,  raised  his  revolver,  and  fired.     As  above-stated, 
while  some  of  the  assistants  kept  back  the  constables 
and  the  crowd,  others  surrounded  the  van  and  began 
to  break  a  way  into  it.     A  woman  was  among  the 
first  to  get  out.     Afterwards  a  tall  man  with  a  dark 
moustache  (Dacey)    camu  out,  and  then  followed  a 
short,  thick-set  man  (Kelly).     Both  of  the  men  looked 
as  if  they  were  still  handcuffed.     JSTearly  all  the  as- 
sailants crowded  round,  and  whilst  some  of  them  hur- 
ried   across  the  unenclosed   fields,   others  remained 
behind  and  fired  more  shots.     The  firing  seemed  quite 
at  random,  as  if  there  was  now  no  wish  to  wound,  but 
only  to  keep  the  police  at  bay. 

"  The  excitement  which  followed  the  report  of  this 
battle  was  indescribable.  In  reply  to  the  Mayor's 
telegram,  the  Home  Office  offered' a  reward  of  £300 
for  the  recapture  of  Kelly  and  Dacey.  The  ]\ranches- 
ter  Corporation  also  oftered  a  reward  of  £200  for  the 
capture  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  rescue.  An- 
nexed is  the  official  description  of  the  two  principal 


!  saw  the 
n  a  bank 
e  put  up 
3n  loiter- 
:lie  num- 
ho  acted 
ed  like  a 
lier  men 
re   quite 
van  was 
le  of  the 
e-stated, 
)nstables 
d  began 
ong  the 
I  a  dark 
lowed  a 
1  looked 
.  the  as- 
em  hur- 
3mained 
3d  quite 
md,  but 

of  this 
Mayor's 
)f  £300 
Jmches- 

for  the 
3.  An- 
I'incipal 


t^ 


FENIAN   HEROES   AND  MABTTES.  443 

fugitives :-.' Colonel  Kelly,  35  years  of  age,  6ft.  6in. 
High,  hazel  eyes,  brown  hair,  brown,  bushy  whiskers 
small  scar  inside  right  arm,  scar  over  right  temple' 
one  tooth  out  of  upper  jaw  on  right  side ;  a  native  of 
Ireland,-   weighs  about  160  lbs.     Captain  Dacey    29 

Wl.  f\'?-  ''^"-  ^^^^'  '^'^'^y  complexion, 
ha^el  eyes,  dark  brown  hair,  brown  moustache,  whis! 
kers  shaved  off,  proportionate  make,  scar  on  left 
cheek,  near  to  the  ear.' 

"  The  country  was  scoured  in  all  directions  during 
the  mght  and  before  eleven  o'clock  twelve  to  fifteen 
arrests  had  been  reported  from  different  places  in  the 
neighborhood.  The  last  that  was  seen  of  Kelly  and 
Dacey  was  near  Clayton  Bridge.  They  were  seen  by 
some  brickmakers  to  go  into  a  cottage,  they  then 
being  m  handcuffs.  When  they  came  out  their  hands 
were  free.  When  the  constables  overtook  Allen  he 
was  already  in  custody,  and  had  been  severely  stoned 
about  the  head  and  body."  ^ 

"  It  is  ascertained,"  says  the  Times,  "  that  the  pri- 
son van  was  preceded,  on  its  way  from  tlie  court  in 
the  afternoon  toward  the  gaol,  by  a  cab  containing 
several  of  the  assailants,  who  joined  those  who  had 
previously  been  seen  loitering  about  the  railway  arch 
and  who  appeared  to  take  the  command."    A  writer 
to  the  Irishman  gives  it  as  the  "  one  opinion"  of  the 
ternhed  town  "that  the  most  daring,  well-planned, 
and  resolute  plot  that  ever  startled  England  has  been 
accomplished  by  the  thirty  men  who  gathered  that 


day  under  the  railway  bridge  at  Hyde  Eoad, 


';yrMiniiii 


444 


DARING   ESCAPES. 


B%'  ll 


CArTAiN  Timothy  Dacey,  the  companion  of  Colo- 
nel Kelly  in  the  Manchester  rescue,  was  born  iu  the 
town  of  Clonakilty,  County  Cork.     He  came  to  tliis 
country   at  an  early   age,    and  settled  in  the    city  of 
Lawrence,  Mass.     On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
he   enlisted  in  the  Massachusetts  Ninth,  fought  gal- 
lantly through  the  campaigns,  was  promoted  to  the 
grade   of  a  lieutenant,  and  was  seriously  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  but  refused  to  leave  his 
command   until  the   fight  was  over.     Among  all  the 
noble  spirits  that  embarked  in  the  cause  of  Irish  na- 
tionality during  the  last   few  years,  there  were  none 
nobler  than  the  unpretending  Dacey.   He  went  to  Ire- 
land September  2d,  1865,  from  the  Lawrence  Circle,  of 
which  he   was   a   member,   reported    at   Skibbereen, 
was  arrested  on  suspicon  a  few  days  after  the  seizure 
of  the  Irish  People^  and  was   kept  in  jail  for  two 
weeks.     On  his  release  he  remained  in  Clonakilty  for 
a  couple  of  months,  when  he  was  ordered  to  Dublin. 
He  remained  there  until  April,  IS^G,  and  had  a  very  nar- 
row escape  from  arrest  on  the  morning  of  the  suspen- 
sion of  the  Habeas  Corpiis  Act ;  getting  out  the  back 
way,   as  the  authorities  entered  the  front.     Captain 
Dacey  was  next  ordered  to  England,   and    located 
in  Liverpool.     Here  he  had  another  narrow  escape — 
having  actually  had  an  interview  with  Major  Greig, 
who  came  to  search  the  house.     After  the  famous  res- 
cue by  the  Manchester  men,  Captain  Dacey  waa  sent 
to  America,  where  he  arrived  on  the  night  of  Sunday, 
October  27tli.      He   was  heartily  welcomed  by  tlio 
Brotherhood,  and  was  the  recipient  of  a  splendid  pub- 


■*!;■•• 


.  <i  ■-'  '*i'-  ' 


,*»*»^ 


*-r:- 


■  ■  '>:i^ 


■■'« 


fl 


'  IP 


f 


I    :: 


i  ^ 


k 


I 


i     ■ 


i'i 


,ii  h 


rlr^**!i'"|'*i™wiiiwM 


PKNIAN    IIimOES   AND    MARTYRS.  445 

lie  rm.,,tion  nncl  Boronmlo  on  th.  in^^l^t  of  October 
^iHt,  at  tho  M(.tn,i,„IiiH„  Uoid,  Kovv  York 

Oniho  Bunu3  ni^ht  tl.o  cscapo  of  another  prisoner 
Iro.n  juil  helped  to  coneentrnto  pul>llo  opinion  on  the 
(luring,  and   detonnination  of  tlie  Fenians.     Captain 
Laurence  O'JJrien  Ih  a  native  of  Nenagi,.     Tlic  Btate- 
inent  that  lie  waH  in  tlie  police  force  i»  erroneous.     ]  le 
(^•nnj^rated  witli  In.  fan.ily  to  America  about  tlie  year 
1^>.).     Ife  BubHe(,„ently  entered  tlio  Union  army,  in 
which  he  won  distinction,  and  was  promoted  to  a  Cap- 
taiiup     1I(.   he(.ame  a   Fenian,  and   tlirew  into  the 
;I"-<>H'CM-h()od  liiH  marked  intelligence  and  great  activ- 
il.y.     J  e  went  to  Ireland  early  in  1S(>7,  accompanied 
Colonel  J  homaB  F.  JJourke  through  Fethard,  Clonmel 
and  Cashel,  and  was  arrest(;d,  on  the  28th  February 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  latter  ].laco.     He  was  discharged 
lor  want  of  suflicient  proof,  but  re-arrested  soon  after 
under  the  J/aOerts  Oorpm  8usi)ension  Act.     He   rc- 
miiined  in  jail,  on  a  Lord  Lieutenant's  wjirrant,  to  the 
12th  August,  wlien,  on  an  investigation,  ho  M-aa  com- 
mitted for  trial  at  the  next  Assizes.     A  short  time 
previous  the  informer  Corydon  was  confronted  with 
the  i^risoncr— who  had  gone  by  the  name  of  Osborne 
—and  identified  him  as  Ca])tain  Laurence  O'Brien 
and  gave  further  evidence  of  Lis  connection  with  Fe- 
nian ism. 

O'Jiricn  was  confined  in  a  coll  from  which  it  was 
believed  escaj^e  would  be  impossible.  The  walls  of 
this  cull  arc  some  five  or  six  feet  thick.  Light  is  ad- 
mitted by  one  solitary  window,  a  large  opening,  pro- 
tected with  double  bars  of  iron,  set  transversely,  and 


1  ! 


446 


FENIAN   IIKROES   AND  MARTYUa. 


ill 
f  ' 


( 


embedded  with  lead  into  lieavy  blocks  of  etono.     Tho 
outer  door  is  of  wood,  sheeted  and  cased  with  iron ; 
the  inner,  a  heavy  iron  gate,  both  well  fastened  out' 
Bide  with  double  .^ka  and   strong  bolts   and  bars. 
Into  this  cell  the  prisoner  was  locked  at  six  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  evcninjr,  19th  September;  and  at  about 
eleven  the  same  night  the  governor  of  tho  jail,  in  tak- 
ing  his  accustomed  round,  visited  tho  different  cells 
^v  ith  a  turnkey,  among  others  O'Brien's,  and  saw  that 
tlio  prisoners  were  in  bed,  and  that  all  was  right,  and 
brought  tho  keys  with  him  to  his  own  room.     At  six 
o'clock   the  next  morning,   it   was   discovered    that 
O'Brien's  cell  was  untenanted.     The  prisoner  had  suc- 
ceeded in  effecting  his  escape  in  the  prison  dress.     A 
search  was  at  once  made  through  the  prison,  and  in- 
formation was  conveyed  to  the  Eoyal  Irish  Constabu- 
lary.    Mounted   men   were  dispatched    in    different 
directions    into    the    country   districts,   while    other 
parties  were  engaged    in   visiting  suspected    places 
through  town— all  to  no  effect.     Upon  examining  the 
cell,  it  was  found  that  the  lower  half  of  the  ifcavy 
iron  grating  of  the  window  had  been  cut  through  in 
part  with  a  file  or  some  sharp  instrument,  the  remain- 
der being  forced  by  some  means   from  its  leaden 
socket,  while  one  of  the  sideblocks  of  limestone  had 
been  broken  in  two,  and  the  loosened  part  removed. 
The  iron  grating  and  broken  masonry  were  found  in 
the  cell,  with  the  prisoner's  hat,  which  was  filled  with 
pieces  of  cement  and  limestone;  also,  a  stout  bar  of 
iron,  skilfully  sharpened  at  one  end,  and  tied  round 
with  cloth  to  protect  the  hand,  and  to  lesson  the  sound 


if  i  I 


DARINO   ESCAPES. 


no.  Tlio 
^Ith  iron  ; 
Biicd  out- 
md  bai'B. 
'clock  on 
at  about 
1,  in  tak- 
ont  cells 
saw  til  at 
ight,  and 
At  six 
^ed  that 
had  suc- 
cess. A 
,  and  in- 
onstabii- 
difFerent 

0  other 
i  places 
ning  the 
10  heavy 
•ough  in 
remain- 
leaden 

one  had 
emoved. 
bund  in 
ed  with 
t  bar  of 

1  round 
e  sound 


447 


while  working.     This  bar  was  cut  ofT  from  the  iron 
support  of  the  metal  stov.  pipe,  which  the  prisoner 
iiad  found  means  to  procure  or  remove  from  it.  phico 
at  the  end  of  ^,ho  corridor  while  passing  to  his  coll. 
There  were  found,  in  addition,  some  two  or  threo 
pieces  of  rod  iron,  finely  pointed ;  a  rude  iron  ham- 
iner,   a  kmfe,  and   a  small   coil  of  rope   unopened. 
iM-om  one  ol  the  remaining  window  bars  a  thin  rope, 
doubled,  hung  loosely,  reaching  some  eight  feet  down 
outside  the  window  itself  being  fully  thirty  feet  from 
the  walk  below  leading  to  the  main  entrance.     By 
this  means  the  prisoner  is  supposed  to  have  lowered 
himself  to  a  level  with  the  iron  gallery,  or  passage 
irom  the  press-room  to  "  the  drop,"  and,  having  been 
drawn  across,  if  he  had  an  accomplice,  or,  which  is 
just  possible,  having  swung  himself  over  to  the  pas- 
sage gallery— in  which  one  of  the  sheets  of  the  prison- 
er's  bed  was    found,  with  the  ends  double-stitched 
together— he  scaled  the  railing,  crossed  the  roof  of  the 
gate-house  barefooted,  and  got  upon  the  parapet  of 
the  outside  wall  of  the  prison,  from  which  it  is  be- 
lieved he  descended  into  the  street,  some  eighteen  or 
twenty  feet,  by  means  of  another  rope,  which  was  also 
found  hanging  from   one   of  the   embrasures.      His 
boots  were  on  the  walk  nnder  his  cell  window,  tied 
together,  as  if  they  had  been  hung  across  his  'arm, 
but  had  slipped  off.  It  was  a  fine  moonlight  night,  and 
the  place  where  the  escape  was  effected  is  not  'fifty 
yards  from  the  llichmond  police  barracks.     Two  of 
the  constabulary  had  been  on  duty  outside  the  door  on 
their  station  up  to  one  o'clock  that  night. 


I 


4i8 


FENIAN  nEIlOE8  AND  MARTYKS. 


The  wildest  conjectures  grew  out  of  Captain 
O'Brien's  escape;  and,  taken  in  connection  with  the 
bold  deed  of  the  gallant  men  of  Manchester,  was  well 
calculated  to  keep  a\v  ake  the  fears  and  anxieties  of  the 
Government. 

"  eein's  hope." 

Considerable  attention  has  been  directed  to  the  so- 
called  "  Feniar  Privateer  "  and  her  cruise.  The  well- 
informed  New  York  correspondent  of  the  Irishman 
says  all  that  may  be  said  on  the  subject  at  present. 
After  stating  that,  when  the  news  of  the  March  rising 
was  flasheci  over  the  cable,  a  certain  sum  of  money 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Colonel  James  Kelly,  Di- 
rector of  Military  Affairs,  F.  B.,  he  continues:  "Kel- 
ly at  once  purchased  a  neat  little  fast-sailing  brig  (he 
had  not  money  enough  for  a  steamer),  aboard  which 
he  placed  15,000  stand  of  arms,  with  ammunition 
and  accoutrements  to  match,  in  charge  of  thirty-five 
picked  officers,  and  started  her  off  to  Ireland — a  pio- 
neer and  forlorxi  hope  ('  Erin's  Hope  '  they  called  her) 

— in  command  of  the  indomitable  Captain ,  U. 

S.  Navy.  These  daring  men  had  not  much  hope 
even  then  of  reaching  their  destination  in  time  to  fur- 
nish the  insurrectionists  with  the  weapons  they  took 
with  them ;  but  they  insisted  on  risking  their  lives  in 
order  to  solve  a  question  wdiicli  was  of  vital  impor- 
tance for  those  who  Avork  for  Ireland's  redemption  by 
force  of  arms,  and  the  doubts  upon  which  formed  a 
serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  Fenian  propagandists 
here.     The  chief  argument  used  by  many  opponents 


Captain 
L  with  the 
',  was  well 
jties  of  the 


DAEING   ESCAPES. 


449 


to  the  so- 
The  well- 
Irishmaii 
,t  present, 
irch  rising 
of  money- 
Kelly,  Di- 
Les:  "Kel- 
g  brig  (he 
ard  which 
Qmunition 
thirty-five 
nd — a  pio- 
called  her^ 

— ,u: 

inch  hope 
Line  to  fur- 
they  took 
ir  lives  in 
ital  impor- 
uption  by 
.  formed  a 
pagandists 
opponents 


ir  vTr^  """'  *'*  ''  ^''^  irr^^o^me  to  dear  Fe- 

TTnT^  Z  ?"  *  *S'°*'  "■■  ^'ti^  the  consent  of  the 
United  States  authoritip»     Ti,;„      -..i,  ., 

awnmpnt  tl,„t  -7  •  ''  ™*  *'^«  correlative 

aigument  that  it  was  impossible  for  any  such  vessel 
even  though  she  had  left  these  shores  unspoken  of  an 
enemy   to  pass  the  eordon  of  war  ship   wfth  which 

wKLTr-^';"  """"'^  IrelanVespelMy 
wnen  Ireland  is  in  danger  of  such  invasion  •  those 

Fe^knill'  r;,:f ---<i  to  deprive  opponent:: 
J^enianism  of  tliat  argument  at   all  hazards    and  T 
maintain  that  they  have  done  it  effeetually  '   They 
did  clear  a  vessel  from  a  United  States  port ;  they  did 
pass  the  cordon;'  they  did  touch  thelilh  colst'^.nd 
m  their  devotion  to  the  principle  on  which  they  had 
embarked    some  of  them  did  actually  land  on  Irilh 
oil  in  such  a  manner  as  to  prove  that  not  thi2  bu 
tUHy  thousand  could  have  effected  a  similar  lardW 
before  one-tenth  of  that  number  could  be  muZlT,^ 
oppose  them    even  when  your  Gover;  iXt  ^l'  I 
thoroughly  (?)  .prepared'  for  such  an  emergenry  L 
they  claimed  to  bo  last  spring.     The  passengei^  ^f 
t  le    Erin  s  Hope'  not  only  visited  Ireland,  and  iZ 

Ttm'r"'  '•"^"''"'^-«''.  'passed  the  co  don'  t- 
the  fifth  Ume  returned  across  the  ocean,  sailed  quiT 
ly  and  safely  into  this  port,  unshipped  their  carers; 
stored  ,t  away  into  the  Fenian  armoiy  L  X^ 
disposed    of  their  vessel  profitably  for  the  C' 
cause ,.  and    next  day,  set  t?  work  ft  ti^ir  o  d!voca' 
tons   as  If  they  had  only  been  absent  on  a  pCure 
trip  to  tie  Paris  Exposition  I    g"  mnoh  ---.." 

r        —    ^v-  *i.uca  lur  cue  im- 


! 


'it 


.V  \, 


450 


FENIAN  HEROES  AND  MAETTE8. 


possibility  of  sending  a  Fenian  expedition  from  m 
American  port  to  Ireland  1  By  the  way,  I  should  have 
mentioned  that  when  the  news  reached  here  that  the 
*  rising'  had  been  positively  suppressed,  two  other 
vessels  were  being  laden,  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
where  I  now  write,  with  a  similar  cargo  and  bound 
on  a  similar  excursion,  but  che  work  was,  of  course, 
discontinued." 

JOHN  WAHEEN  AND  WELLIAM  NAGLE. 

were  arrested  on  the  Ist  June,  1867,  on  the  bridge 
crossing  the  Blackwater  from  "W  aterford  into  Youghal. 
They  were  kept  in  Youghal  until  the  morning  of  the 
4th,  when  they  were  sent  to  the  Cork  County  Jail, 
being  marched  through  the  streets  handcuffed  like 
felons.  The  gallant  soldiers,  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  in  the  late  war,  were  greatly  incensed  and 
insulted  by  such  treatment,  and  communicated  with 
their  relatives  and  friends  in  this  country,  invoking 
the  aid  of  their  Government.  As  Colonel  Nagle, 
writing  from  jail,  says :  "  This  is  not  exclusively  an 
individual  case,  but  becomes  a  question  of  right,  in- 
volving the  liberty  of  every  American  citizen  that 
sets  foot  on  this  soil.  I  ask  the  Government  of  my 
country,  which  I  have  faithfully  served,  whose  laws  I 
have  never  violated,  to  secure  to  me  that  liberty  which 
is  my  birthright,  and  of  which  I  am  now  deprived 
without  any  cause  or  plea  of  justification,  by  an  au- 
thority I  do  not  recognize— a  government  to  which  I 
owe  no  allegiance,  and  whose  laws  I  have  in  no  way 
infringed  upon." 


1  from  an 
lould  have 
e  that  the 
two  other 
d  yards  of 
,nd  bound 
of  course, 


E. 

;he  bridge 
►  Youghal. 
ing  of  the 
unty  Jail, 
5uffed  like 
tinguished 
ensed  and 
ated  with 
,  invoking 
lel  Nagle, 


usively  an 
right,  in- 
tizen  that 
ent  of  my 
ose  laws  I 
jrty  which 
deprived 
by  an  au- 
;o  which  I 
in  no  way 


Daeing  Esoapes, 


451 


fh?''^''''''^  J"^^""  "^^^^  ^  statement  of  his  case  to 

.    ^-S    ra    f  if^  The 

npt  nr^  ^^  A        xT      ^oods  letter  before  the  Cabi- 

was  leS  tT      ",  '"*  ^"S""''  ""^  ^-  Seward 
was  directed  to  confer  at  once  with  Sir  FredenVb 

"  tL     t-    .1     "  '■"P'^'  ^'•-  Seward  said : 
thi,  n„   '?•'       ^^'  '''■■"^''y  '■«<'«'™d  the  attention  of 
tis  Department,  which  understands  that  those  per- 

are  no  sufficient  grounds  to  charge  them  with  the 
^mmission  of  any  offence  against  fhe  law"  Tf  Grfat 
Wl^ea'^    ,^"  good  reason  to  believe  that  tW 

gra%d"To  Tf  '^''^''  ^''  ^^^^^™'^  I5™««  tele, 
graphed  to  his  Government  recommending  the  imme- 

Wil     T  1  ''"'"^"^'^  ^^Sle  and  WarrenZm 
^nsonment,  and  sent  to  Mr.  Seward  .  copy  of  Z 

On  the  23d  September,  they  wero  removed  t* 
Mountjoy  prison,  Dublin,  and  on  the  slmTdav  rl 
ceived  a  letter  from  M,  Adams.  United  States  Envoy 
at  London,  m  which  he  says  •  ^^voy 

br-thi^rri"  -f^^"^^rS^:i 

«vent  at  Manchester.    I  very  n.uch  regret  ieZ^ 


452 


FENIAN   HEEOES  AND  MAETYRS. 


W    1     f 


VS'-f 


IM 


ili;l  ii; 


ing  to  which  you  are  subjected,  and  shall  continue  to 
do  all  in  iny  power  ibr  your  relief." 

Colonel  Nagle  takes  the  position  which  every  spir- 
ited American  citizen,  native  or  adopted,  must  iii- 
dorse,  when  he  says  : 

"I  have  not  desired  Mr.  Adams  nor  Mr.  West  to  petition  for  my 
liberty.  I  scorn  to  receive  as  a  favor  wliat  I  demand  as  a  right. 
Aside  from  the  Individual,  physical  and  moral  injury  done  me, 
there  is  another  great  question  involved,  before  which  all  personal 
matters  sink  into  insignificance.  The  reputation  and  character  of 
my  country  is  involved  in  it.  Will  the  United  States  maintain  its 
own  honor  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  by  defending  the  liber 
ties  of  her  citizens  abroad  ?  Or  are  they  to  be  subject  to  the  op- 
pression and  caprice  of  every  government  in  Europe  in  which 
they  may  chance  to  roam ;  deprived  of  all  that  man  holds  dear  in 
life,  and  no  redress  ?  If  so,  let  the  fact  be  proclaimed,  that  all 
may  act  accordingly." 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  interest  shown  by 
our  goverment,  and  the  seeming  good  faith  of  the 
British  Minister  in  telegraphing  to  his  Government, 
nothing  has  been  done  in  behalf  of  the  outraged  pris- 
oners.  The  latest  intelligence  concerning  them  waa 
conveyed  by  a  cable  dispatch  of  21st  October, 
stating  that  they  would  be  brought  to  trial  before  a 
Special  Commission,  to  commence  on  the  25th,  cou- 
pled with  the  humiliating  addition,  "  it  is  said  that 
the  United  States  Government  will  provide  for  the 
defence  of  Nagle  and  Warren."  • 

It  is  full  time  the  people  should  know  what  is  the 
meaning  of  the  plirase  American  Citizen^  or  if  it  has 
Any  meaning  at  all,  and  having  a  meaning,  does  it  emi 


DARING   ESCAPES. 


453 


itinue  to 


'ery  spir- 
tnust  ill- 


ion  for  my 
a3  a  right. 
T  done  me, 
II  personal 
haracter  of 
laintain  its 
I  tlie  llbet- 
to  the  op- 
e  in  which 
Ids  dear  in 
3d,  that  all 

lown  by 
h  of  the 
ernment, 
ged  pris- 
tiem  waa 
October, 
'  before  a 
i5tli,  cou- 
3aid  that 
e  for  the 


brace  a  distinction  between,  and  a  difference  of  pro- 
tection  to,  a  native  and  an  adopted  "  citizen."  If  the 
Government  liad  its  mind  mnde  up  as  to  what  consti- 
tutes a  citizen  and  his  rights,  its  Minister  and  Con- 
suls in  Great  Britain  would  no  doubt  have  shown  some 
prompt  dignity  and  decision,  when  the  national  senti- 
ment  and  character  were  outraged  by  the  wanton  ar- 
rest  and  contemptuous  treatment  of  American  citi- 
zens so-called,  both  native  and  adopted. 


THSEXOV 


lat  is  the 

if  it  has 

)es  it  emi 


f 


it 


INDEX  TO  HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTM, 


Act  of  Settlement,  14— Eepeal  of,   15 

"  Agrarian  Outrages  " 43 

American  Agents  in  Ireland,— 

tiieir  number 71,72 

American  Rovolution  emboldens 

Irish  Catliolics  and  Presbyte- 


rians. 


., 23 

American  Sympatliy  for  Ireland . .    80 

Amiens,  Treaty  of. 33 

Arrests  in  1865 05,66,69 

Attorney-General,  Irish,  boast  of.    08 
"Authorities,"  ruffianism  of  the, 

in'98 27 

Authorities,  panic  among 6S,  06 

Banks,  a  run  on,  in  Cork 65 

Banks,  Hon.  N.  t.,  introduces 
Resolutions  of  Sympathy  with 
Ireland  to  House  of  Represent- 

a"v«8 93,  95,96 

Boswell,  refererco  to 80 

Buonaparte.  31— Views  on  Ire- 
land,  32  — Abuse  of,   in  Ung. 

land 31,32 

Bourke,  Thomas  Francis 88 

Brenan,  Joseph 52 

Bright,  John,  M.  P.,  on  the  Ha- 
beas Corpus  Suspension,  7a— 
Places  its  responsibility  on 
evil  legislation  for  Ireland,  73— 
Discusses  the  failure  of  Eng- 
lish legislation  for  Ireland,  74— 
Denounces  the  Ministers,  74— 
Declares  that  the  Irish  should 
not  be  content,  75-Roebnck, 
on,  7n— Speech  at  Birmingham, 
OS  — CoQtradicti   the   Queen's 


Speech,  104— On  the  English 
Church  In  Ireland,  104— On 
Irish  Tranquility 104,  lOS 

Burke,  Edmund,  on  the  Penal 
Code ^    Id 

Byron,  Lord,  on  the  results  of 
"The  Union" ^ 

O 

Camden,  Lord,  proclaims  Ireland 
under  martial  law g^ 

Campo  Bello,  futile  attempt  on!.*.    81 

Canadian  Party  of  the  P.  B.,  67— 
Heads  off  Stephens,  81  — Dis- 
tracts  the  Fenian  element,  81— 
Futile  offers  of  union  with ....    gj 

Catholic  Cavaliers,  base  treat- 
ment  of,  by  the  Stuarts M 

Churches  burned  by  the 

authorities,  29-  Emancipation 
not  all  that  was  needed,  86— 
Davis  on,  37— Peasantry  but- 
chered, 31  —  Rights,  United 
Irishmen  the  advocates  of...      86 

Catholics,  English  and  Irish,  13 
—Their  animosities,  13— Ex- 
cluded from  Parliament,  14— 
Humiliating  position  of,  23— 
Penal  laws  against,  10  — Why 
they  joined  James  II 14, 15 

Charles  II ^ 

Chester,    Fenian   demonstration 

0° 83 

Clinch,  Rev.  Father,   fights  the 

English  at  Vinegar  HUl 2S 

Coercion  Bill ^j 

Conflicts  between  the  National- 
ists and  the  authorities,  in  1848, 
at  Slate  Quarries,  MuUinahone, 


456 


INDEX, 


1:1 


Klllonnnlc,  Ballln£jarry,  Abbcy- 
fealo,  48-At  Forlluw  Barracks, 
Glenbowcr,  Scaugh,  40— At  \Va- 

terford  and  Cashel 49,50 

Congress,    Ist   National,  of  Fe-  ' 
nian  Brotherhood,  at  Chicago, 
67— Declares  allegiance  to  tho 
Constitution  and  laws   of  the 
United  States,  57— Psspect  for 
Plus  IX.,  69-IId,  held  in  Cin- 
ciunatl,  60— Report  of  Mr.   P. 
Coyne  to,  61 -Hid,  held  In  Phili 
adelphia,  68— Report  of  Mr.  P. 
J.  Meohan  to,  66— New  Consti- 
tution,  66— Its  results,  66,  67— 
rvth,  held  in  New  York,  the 
largest  representation   of  Fe- 
nians that  had  taken  place,  68 
—Old  Constitution  restored  and 
the  Presidency  abolished,  68— 
Indorsed  by  Military  Conven- 
tion, 68— Vth,    held   In    New 
York,  89— Its  action ;  Mr.  A.  A. 
Griffin  elected  Executive,  89— 
Vlth,  held  in  New  York,  105— 
Twenty  States  and  Territories 
represented,  106— John  Savage 

elected  Chief  Executive 106 

Congress  of  the  United  States, 
Irish  cause  in,  92— Vote  on....    97 

Conolly,  Mr.,  M.  P '    1^ 

Corcoran,  General  Michael 66,  60 

Corydon,  an  informer 82  88 

Council,  Central,  of  P.  B.  enlarged  ' 

to  ten gj 

Coyne,  Mr.  Philip,  report  on  Irish 

affairs  to  2d  Oongress gi 

Cromwell,  12— His  conflscatioiis    18 
Crcwley,  Peter  O'Neill gS 

3D 

S>avl3,  Thomas,  the  Centre  of 
Young  Ireland,  89— On  the  Pe- 
nal Laws,  18— Tributes  to  him, 
40— Advantage  over  Tone 41 

Demands  made  on  the  American 
Wsh ^ 

J)eniffe,  Mr.  Joaeph,  Envoy  of  th» 


P.  B ^  -J 

Derby,  Earl  of,  on  the'lrVph  "lead- ' 
ers  In  the  House  of  Lords,  46— 
On  Fenianism .^g 

Devotion  of  Irishmen  "to  iriVh 
I-lberty ^  ^ 

Dickson,  Rev.  W.  Steele,  Ad]xx- ' 
tPxt-General  of  Ulster gjj 

Difflculties  of  Irish  Nationalists 
In  America 

Dillon,  J.  B.,  escape  of,  48— 
Views  in  Parliament  on  tho 
state  of  Ireland ^g 

Dissenters,   their   position   and 


64 


views 


93 


Doheny,  Michael,  opinion  of  Da- 
vis,  40  — Escaped,  48— Taken 
out  of  Jail,  but  gives   himself 

^"P 49,63,68 

Duffy,  C.   Gavan,  opposes  Mlt- 

chel'B  policy 45 

Dwyer,  Michael .'*."    34 

B 

'82  and  '98,  11-The  Revolution  " 
of,  21— Effects  of,  21— Tone  on, 
21— Concentrated  power  in  the 

aristocracy gj 

Eldridge,  Hon.  Mr.,  favors  Pe*- 

nlanlsm  In  Congress go 

Emancipation     compared    with 

Repeal ^ 

Emmet,  Robert,  81— Interviews 
with  Buonaparte  and  Talley- 
rand, 31— His  funds  to  make 
war,  35— His  principles  and 
energy,  36-His  fate,  85— ThoB. 

Addis 

England,  her  danger  In  '08,  SsU 

What  she  lost  in '98 29 

English  Church  in  Ireland,'ioill 
Falsehoods  on  Irish  tranquility,  • 
78— Dean  Swift  on,  79-Gove/n- 
ment  bewildered  by  the  Fenian 
mystery,  64— Government,  its 
hate  of  the  United  States  check- 
ed  by  the  P.  B.,  61— Interest  in  . 
Ireland,  13, 13-The  SuBpenaion 


81 


INDEX. 


C2,63 

riph  load- 
lOrds,  46— 

78 

to  Irish 

68,64 

!lo,  A(ya- 

25 

lionalistB 

64 

of,    48— 
t  OQ  the 

75 

Ion   and 
83 

n  of  Da- 
-  Taken 
himself 
....49,63,68 

368    Mlt- 

45 

84 

volntlon 
one  on, 
r  in  the 


ors  Pe- 

l    with 

jrviewB 
Talley- 
•  make 
!s  and 
-ThoB. 

«,  sail 


S9 

81 


81 


S9 


1,104- 
luUity,  • 
ove/n- 
^enian 
It,  its 
check- 
est  in  , 
insion 


of  the  Habeai  Corpus  the  only 

eafety  of, 

English  leglelatloq  celerity  of,  to 
fustain  English  interest,  78— 
For  Ireland,  Bright  on,  73-A 
poisono'iB  medicine,  75  -Parlla- 
niunt,  Ireland  in 

'p'n!;.V?'!!*A'*"  ^y^em  of  the 
■Englisii  Government 43, 

Famine  a  great  ally  of  the  En^- 
llsh,  42-Year8,  infamous  con- 
duct of  the  Government  during, 
Fenian  Brotherhood,  its  origin, 
65-O^Mahony  elected  Chief  o^' 
65-8tniggle  f9r  existence,  65— 
Expansion  of,  65-It8  sustoin- 
inent  of  the  Union,  66-Nece8- 
Sity   for    reorganization,    56— 
First  National  Congress  held  at 
Chicago,  57-It8  objects  and  do- 
clarations,  57,  58-Not  a  Secret 
Society,  57,  SS-Respect  for  the 
Pope  and  sympathy  with  Po- 
land,  69-The  government  of 
the    Organization,   69  — O'Ma- 
bony  resigns  and  is  re-elected, 
60-Effect  of  the  First  Congress, 
«0-Growth  of  Circles,  60-Ef. 
feet  of,  on  the  English  Govern- 
ment   daring    the    war,    61— 
Change-,  in  the  Constitution  of, 
Cl-Ji^ffect  of  the  Organization 
'"-'  'and.  ea-Early  difficulty 
ads,  63— Its  mys- 
t<  .    '   •  ■       to  the  "uthorities, 
^— >■''■.  Mverpool,  Man- 

cheste  ^w,  65-Constita- 

tion  changed,  and  a  President 
and  Cabinet  created,  68— O'Ma- 
hony  elected  President,  67— DIb- 
nremberment  of,  67-Ile8tora- 
tion  of  the  old  Constitution,  68 
—Military  Convention  meet,  68 
— O'Mahony  reinstated  as  Head 
Centre,  68-Continned  excite- 
ment in  Ireland,  68-Stephen8' 
capture  ud  remarkable  eacapo 


457 


72 


98 
44 


48 


from  Ja'.l,  68-Lord  Lieutenant's 
description    of,  70,  71-Pitifm 
alarm  of  the  Government,  70, 74, 
ra-John  Bright  on,  70,  72,  78- 
Meetings  held  in  America  on  the 
Suspension  of  the  Habta,  Cor- 
pus  Act,  80-Arrival  of  Stephens 
in  America,  1806,  81_0'Mahony 
retires,  81 -Distracted   by  the 
Canadian  Party,  Sl-Stephens' 
promises  and  failure,  62-Ui8 
Military  Staff  determine  on  a 
rising-Col.  T.  J.  Kelly  directs 
affairs,  88  -Chestci    betrayed 
by  Corydon-Kcrry,  82-Govem. 
ment  statement  on  the  latter,  83 
—The  rising  in  March,  '67,  84— 
Proclamation,  84 -Betrayal  br 
Massey,  88-Suppreesion  of  the 
March  effort,  88-Noblo  conduct 
of  the  Irish  Party  in  America  to 
keep  alive  the  Organization,  89 
-Fifth  Congress,  89 -Public 
meeting  in  Union  Square,  89- 
Letter  from  Mayor  Homnan,  90 
-Efforts  to  effect  union  with  the 
Canadian  Party,  91-  The  J.ish 
cause  in  the  United  States  Con- 
gress,   92— Reorganization  on 
foot,  105-John  Savage  elected 
Chief  Executive  at  the  6th  Con- 
gress, 106— Address  on  accept- 

ingofflce 

Fends  between  the  old  Irish  knd 

Irish  of  English  descent jj 

'48,  the  New  York  Directory  of! .      62 
Freeholders,  forty  shilling. ..,[,[    ^ 

Qrattan,  his  career,  38— Buried  in 

Westminster m 

Gray,  Nicholas .".'.' », 

Gray,  Philip '.'.'.'.'.'..[    5 

Gray,  Sir  John,  does  not  want 
Fenian  speeches  in  Parliament 
77-The  O'Donoghne  replies  to ' 
Grey,  Sir  George,  give*  the  hla- 
tor7  of  Fenianlam 


108 


77 


458 


INDEX. 


3EZ 

Itnbtnn  Corpus  Siinponded,  1848, 
48— SiifpoiiHion  in  18()5,  (i9— De- 
bate on.  In  rarllnrao"t,  (39— 
Vote  on,  78-l'o\vcr  for  evil  ...    80 

ITal|)ln,T.M 44 

Harvest,  waiting  for  the 47 

Hoclie,  French  slilp-of-war,  cap- 

tnrcfl 25 

Doffnian,  ITon.  J.  T ,  Mayor  of 
Now  York— Letter  to  the  groat 

Feninn  meul  ing go 

llopo,  JuniCB SI 

lIorHforil,  an  English  Colonel, 
bafllod  by  Colonel  O'Connor  in 

Kerry 83 

HorBinan,  Mr,,  M.  P.,  on  Bright. .    76 

I 

Indiana,  the  Banner  State  of  Fo- 
nlanicm 58 

Ineurrectlonary  movements,  In 
18«5.  at  Chester,  b2— Kerry,  83 
— Drogheda,  86  —  Oastkinartyr, 
86  — Ballincollig,  87-0 th org 
passim, 

1.R.B 56,61,  62 

Ireland,  her  qunliflcatio  sforself- 
puBtainment,  20— Her  insigni- 
llcance  in  the  Empire,  21— King, 
Lords  and  Commons  of,  31 — 
Continued  excitement  in,  88— 
"  Perfectly  tranquil,"  83— Forty 
thousand  troops  necessary  to 
keep  it  qniet,  104— Rifled  of  its 
grain  during  the  Famine 43 

Iris h-A mericans  seized  and 
searched 65 

Irish  Brigade,  Officers  of,  go  to 
Ireland 64 

Irish  cause,  efforts  to  sustain,...    63 

Irish  Confederation  founded.  40 
— The  members  as  revolution- 
lets,  41— Fore  d  into  action,  42 
—Not  a  Secret  Society,  42— Its 
Design,  42— Not  equal  to  iho 
crisis, 44 -Enrolled  men  5n,44 
SilTurenccs  of  opinion  in,  45— 


Two  dnyn'  d  bate,  45-Excttcd 
by  the  French  Kevolu.lon,  40— 
Addresses  tlio  French  IU|)uh- 
lio,  4(5  Prevents  an  ontbrcaic, 
47- Leaders  take  to  the  iiills,  47 
—Not  sufflciently  orgniiized  to 
i\g\\t 40 

Exiles,  In  France,  63— SiJrcad  the 
Irish  cause  in  An  Ca,  63- 
Mistaken  idea  uf  their  resources    54 

lri.sk  felon,  Started,  47-- Seized, .     47 

Irish  Qovcrnmunt,  fitting  on  a 
mino  C5 

Irl^h  Legion,  Ofllcers  of,  go  to 
Ireland 64 

Irislimnn  with  American  Ideas, 
dread  of    , 72 

Irich  Parliament,  a  shadow  of  the 
Engli'th 21 

Irish  People  seized (^5,  69 

IiiisH  PniNcirMSB  and  Englisu 
Intebest  11  -Continued 61 

Irish  Republic,  ordered  by  Ist 
Congress,  69  -  Cheered  in  Eng- 
land     80 

Iriak  Tribune  started,  47— Seized    47 

J" 

Jackson,  Rev.  W.,  hia  betrayal 
and  death 25 

James  II.,  12— Distrast  of  his 
Irish  adherents,  15— His  vacilla- 
tion     15 

Johnson,  Dr.,  on  Dr.  Lucas' 
exile,  19— On  a  Lcgislutive 
"Union" 80 

Johnston,  General 26 

Journals,  national,  suppressed...    47 

Kearns,  Father  Moses,  fights  tho 
English  at  Newto^ynbarry — 
Wounded  at  Enniecorthy,  26— 
Hanged 27 

Kelly,  Colonel  Thomas  J.,  suc- 
ceeds Stephens  in  directing  af- 
fairs     88 

Kerry,  rising  at 82 


INDEX. 


459 


Excited 
on,  4ft— 

Ki|)uh- 
Ubrcalc, 
liills,  47 
lizcd  to 

40 

road  tho 

a,  63- 
Roiircos    54 
k'ized..    47 
g  on  a 
C5 

r,  go  to 

04 

J  Ideas, 

72 

IV  of  the 

21 

C5,  69 

Snousu 
d 61 

by  l8t 
in  Eng- 

80 

-Seized    47 


betrayal 
25 

of  his 
i  vaclUa- 
16 

Lucas' 
jislutive 

80 

26 

isscd...    47 


jhts  tho 
ibarry — 
hy,  26- 
27 

J.,    BUC- 

cting  af- 
88 

8a 


Lftlor,  Pcnton gj 

Lundfitumtioiia,  wars  growing  out 
of  tlieiii 13 

Lawless,  William jj,i 

L'EHtrango.  Colonel,  driven  Into 

Newtownbarry jjq 

Long,  Philip,  a  patriotic  trades- 

man  of  Dublin jjs 

••  Loyalty  of  tl  o  Police  " 08 

Luby,  T.  Clarke,  arrewted (B 

Lucaa,  Dr.  Charles,  Dr.  Johnson 

on 18 

Madden,  Dr.  R.  K.,  reference  to,  38  20 

Manufartories  of  Feniun  arms 73 

Martial  law  an  ineenlive  to  riot..    27 

Manuey,  Oodi'roy.  an  informer 88 

McCabe,  Putnam 84 

Meaglier,  Gen.  Thomas  Francis, 
tribute  to  Davis,  40— Opposes 
Mitchel's  policy,  46— Ilis  voico 
for  war,  4(1— Prevents  his  own 
rescue,  49— Captured  and  ban- 
ished. 48— Appeals  to  the  New 
York  Directory  for  funds  for  tho 
Feniana,  G3— Me^Bage  of  Irater- 
iiity  to  the  Fenian  Congress...  CO 
Meehan,  Wr.  P.  J.,  Envoy  to  L-o» 
land,  report  of,  to  tho  8d  Con- 
gress     oa 

Military  Convention  indorses  4tU 
National     Congress,    C3— Ibbuo 

an  address , (jy 

Mill,  J.  Sti'.art,  on  the  Su-spension 

of  the  Habrax  Curpua 7Q 

Mitchel,  John,  tribute  t«  Davis, 
40— Ilis  writings  force  j)ublic 
opinion,  42— iUlvocutes  resist- 
ance to  the  Famine  policy,  4.5 — 
Starts  the  I'nited  Irishmnn  45 
—  Arrested,  47— Banished,  .47 
—His  trial  the  time  for  action . ,    60 

Molyneaux,  Caxe  of  Ireland 18  J9 

Monsell,  Mr.,  M.  P.  his  vigorous 
Speech  in  Parliament  on  the 
state  of  Ireland,  S'J-Declares 
the  Irish  people  nil  disloyal 103 


Morning  Potf,  London,  reu.arka- 

blo  letter  In 67 

Murphy,  Colonel  Matthew QO 

Murphy,  Father  John,  his  chapel 
burned,  20— Fights  tho  English 
at  Oulart  Hill.  20— At  the  battles 
of  Enniscorihy,  Vinegar  Hill, 

Ac,  20— Hanged 87 

Murphy,  Father  Michael,  a  bravo 
leader  against  the  English,  20— 
Killed  at  the  batt|e  of  Arklow..    SJ7 
IsT 
Nation,  the  newspaper,  40,  46— 

Seized 47 

Nationality,  Irish  struggle  for. .    11 
'98,  civil  war  in,  27— Duration  and 
Cost  oJ,  29— Prominenco  In  Irish 
History,  11— Memories  leit  by . .    88 

'98  and  '48,  reference  to 28 

Nobility  In  Emmet's  rebellion...    83 
O 

Oath-bound,  the  F.  B, ,  not 68 

O'Brien,  Smith,  opinion  of  Davis, 
40— Opposes  Mitchel's    policy, 

45— Captured  and  Ijanished 48 

O'Connell,  his  agitation,  .30.. Ca- 
reer, compared  with  Grattan'a, 
33- Dies   In   Genoa,   39  — Ills 

promises 69 

O'Connor,  Arthur 83 

O'Connor,  Col   John  J.,  heads  a 

rsing  in  Kerry 82,83 

O'Doiio-hue,  The,  defends  tho 
character  of  Feniaiiism  in  Par- 
liament,   77  — On    the    HuOeat 

CiiriiHs  Bu-pension, 73 

O'Doiiovan  (Hosss),  J., arrested. .    C5 
O' Flaherty,  Kev.  Edward,  the  loss 

«f  66 

O'Lcary,  John,  arrested 05 

O'Oorman,  Ilicliurd.  escape  of 48 

O'Mahony,  John,  effort  to  rally 
the  people,  48— Chief  of  the 
early  Fenian  Organization,  55— 
Reasons  for  calling  1st  Con- 
gress, 56— Resigns  Head  Centre- 
eh^p  and  is  re-elected,  60— Elect- 
ed again  by  2d  Congress,  02,  Oa 


ieo 


INDEX. 


';'l 


-Goo*  to  Trcltnd,  BO.  SS-LRbon 
In    America,  04-RetlrcB    from 

IcadcrBhlp g^ 

Orangoinun  of  Ulator iq 

Otto,  M.,  French  Kiivoy  In  Eng- 
land, 8a-PK)t08tB  ttgttlUBt  Eug. 

llshabiiHo  of  Buonaparte, 83 

Oulart  mil,  English  defeated  at. .    3G 

Patriot  PricBts  and  MlnfBteri,  25 

Noble  devotion  of 95 

Patriots,  Protestant ].!!!!!  18 

Peard,  Col.  Robert,  of  Mllford !  ] ." !  06 
Penal  I^wh,  iC-DavIs  on,  1»-Ef. 
focts  on  the  peasantry,  88— Vio- 
lated the  Treaty  of  Umerlok..  87 

"Phoenix"  Society 03 

Plio,   Hon.  Mr.,  in  the  Irish  de. 

bate  In  United  States  ConprcBB  05 

Pins  >X.,  resolution  of  respect  for  69 

Poland,  Fenian  sympathy  with..  69 

Porter,  Rev.  Wm.,  hanjjod SS 

Powder  depot  blown  up  in  1803..  85 

Prenderpnat,  Rev.  Father,  hanged  27 

Presbyterians ^ 

Priests,  hunted *"  jiy 

Proclamation  of  tho  Irish  Provis- 
ional Oovcmment  In  '«7 84 

Protestant  "  gentry  "  bought" '. '. '. .  si 
Party,  position  and  pa- 

22 

■ Patriots 18 

Protestants,  English,  fears  of. .[..    la 

<^ 

Queen's  Speech gg 

Quigley,  Rev.  Father,  hanged ...      27 

Redmond,  Father  Nicholas,  ftghts 
the  English  at  Newtownbarry, 
86— hanged 

Ruilly,  T.  Uovln,  45-E8capes.! 

Repeal  of  the  Unicm,  »»— Emanci- 
pation, compared  with ffj 

Reynolds,  Thomas,  the  Arnold  of 
Ireland ^8 

Ri(l;reway,  Caii.idian  Party  engage 
the  troops  at °  .  _  _    gj 


tronage. 


27 

48 


Riot  In  Yorkshire,  EngUnd,  Irish 

Republic  cheered  at gg 

Riots,  among  tho  soldiers,  m^M 

Bullliicolllg ^ 

KlHing  of  March,  '07,  betrayed  by 

MasBoy— Suppression gs 

Roberts,  Mr.  W.  R.,  and  tho  "Sen- 
ate Party,"  «7-Moycon  Canada    81 
Robinson,  Hon.  Wm.  E.,  speech 

on  Ireland  in  Con^resB 93 

Roche,  Father  Pliillp,  fights  "tho 
English  at  Tubbcmeering,  20- 

OenerullBBlmo,  SO— hanged 27 

Roebuck,  Mr.,  M.  P..  on  the  Irish    70 
"  Rossa,"  (Bee  J.  O'Donovnn  ) 
Royalists,  what  they  received  af- 
ter the  war  of '98 29 

Russell,  Thomas,  In  Paris,  83-1 
Gcneral-iu-Chlefof  UlBter 81 


SarflflcM,  rebnkes  James  IT 15 

Savage,  John.  "'98  and  '48."  28— 
Effbrts  to  rally  the  peopio,  48— 
Elected  Chief  Executive  of  tho 
Fenian  Brotherhood  by  the  6th 
CongrcBB,  106— Speech  on  ac- 
cepting office 

Scotch  soldiers  cheered  for  beat 
ing  English  ones 

Secession  in  the  Fenian  Brother 
hood 

Secret  Society,  ihe  F.  B.  not  a. , . 

Seizures  on  board  vessels 84 

"•Senate  Party  "  differ  with  "the 
President,"  07-Di8graceful  re- 
sults of  the  difference,  67— Its 
policy 

Soldiers,  dlBaffection  amongst,  65 
—Arretted,  65— Seduction  of, 
7»— Riots  about  Fentanism,  86— 
Kfforts  of  the  Government  to 
suppress  tho  (hct 

Stephens,  James,  undertakes  the 
organization  of  Ipcland,  62— Re- 
ceives a  commission  from  New 
York,  G3-Declared  Chief  Execu- 


106 
88 

67 

68 


OT 


INDEX. 


461 


d,  Irish 
80 

ffl 

nyed  by 

88 

D"  Sen- 
Canada   81 
Bpecch 

93 

itH  tho 
ipr,  26- 

Bd 27 

e  Irish    70 
nn.) 
ved  af- 

89 

I,  83- 
r 84 

15 

"  38- 
0,4?— 
of  tho 
he  0th 
in  ac- 
106 

beat- 

88 

othcr- 

fi7 

>ta...    68 
84 

"the 
^I  re- 

7-It8 

67 

rst,  65 
n  of, 
I,  se- 
nt to 

88 

8  the 
-Re- 
New 
xecu- 


Mve  cf  tho  IrjHh  nopnbllc  by  lit 
CoiitfrcKP,  fttt-ConMB  to  AniorU 
ca  in  1868,  (i8-8pend«  a  couple 
of  y<!ar«  in  Franco,  C3-Hftiirn» 
to  Irnluiid,  «4-UI)(.r8  and  iuc- 
ccuH,  01— Howard  oflcred  for,  «J5 
—  Arroot  and  OMcnpo,  «W  — Ar- 
rive* In  New  York.  18<i0,  81— 
Headed  oflr))y  the  Canadian  P.tr- 
ty  81— Malten  promiBe».81— His 

nil^»ion  a  failure gj 

Blcvolly,  Hov.  Mr  ,  handed.. ..... 

Btrufc't'lintf  nations,  the  rijfht  oir 
Anioricrtua  to  aid  thum.... 

Btuarls,  the,  IrUh  p..licy  ot,'n- 
Ue-toration  of,  14-An  ungrate- 
ful race 

Swlft'H    Duipier   LeIUrt,  18,  10— 
On  faMflcationof  Iri»h  affair*.. 
X 
Talleyrand,  81-View8  on  Ireland 

ThoMNHUllHECTION    IN    IRKLAND 

1.X455 ' 

The  people  not  prepared  In  '48... 
The  rlHing  of  6th  March,  18«7,  H 

—Public  agitation  created  by. . . 
The    Stkuoolk   ihjr  Ikisu   Na^ 

TIONALITY 

Tone,  ThoobHld  Wolfe,  gives  "a 
character  to  Irish  politicB,  19- 
IIlB  views,  20-On  the  revolu- 
tiou  of  '83,  21-AsplreB  to  ele- 
vato  tlie  Catholics,  88-Kcy  to 
his  pdnclples,  24- Boldness  of 
his  plan.  25-Foundi  the  United 
Irish  Society,  25-Captured,  25 
His  expedition  to  Ireland,  29— 
As  a  political  writer ^j 

Treason-Felony  Act,  passage  of!! 
TJ 

"  ^nJon  "  with  England,  aO-char- 
acter  of,  29-Dr.  Johnson  on,  30 
-Lord  Byron  on,  30-How  car- 


26 


67 


14 

79 

82 

80 
49 

86 

11 


46 


rifd.  HI-  Repeal  ff.  SO-Iti  rnin 

to  Ireland,  87-Brltht  on 

Union  fc'quare,  public  Fenian  de- 

monsirnlion  at 

L'nion,  tho.  defended  by  the  Fe- 

nlann 

Unitrd  Irishman,  the  Journal.. 
United    Irishmen    forced    to    « 

premature    ricing,    27- Great 

chances  of  their  BuccesB 

United  IriKh  t»oc  ety  persocntod 

into  iccrecy 


78 


89 


..     6« 
45,47 


28 


49 


89 


Ve88clB  Bcarched  by  the  authori- 
ties  

Vote  on  the  Irish  resolution   in 
United  States  Congress 97 

■w 

Walpolo,  Colonel,  killed  at  Tub- 

berneei  Ing ^ 

Warwlch,  Rev.  Mr. ,  h«nged ......    25 

Washburn,  Hon.  Mr.,  of  WlBCon- 

»'" 95 

William  of  Orange 13 

Wodehouse,  Lord  Lieutenant  of 
Ireland,  describes  the  terror  of 
the  authorities  and  the  extent 
of  the  conspiracy,  70-Call8  for 
tho  SuFpension  of  the  Habeat 
Corpus,  71— Declares  it  the  only 

safety  of  the  English tj 

Wood's,  lion.  Fernando,  speech 
In  favor  of  the  Fenian  Brother- 
hood  


98 


"2- 

Young  Ireland,  39,  40-Compared 
with  the  mm  of  '98,  41— Earl  of 
Derby  on.  46-Disbanded,  but 
not  defeated,  51 -What  it 
achieved,  62-It8  services  after 
disruption 


6» 


